Chivu shaping a new face for Inter Milan after Inzaghi era

Against Cagliari, Inter Milan showed glimpses of a different identity under Cristian Chivu, with intensity, pressing and hunger

When a team changes coach, comparisons are inevitable — especially when the comparison is with Simone Inzaghi. 

With him on the bench, Inter Milan opened a cycle that brought to Milan a Serie A title, two Champions League finals and several domestic cups. So comparisons return often, very often indeed.

And with Cristian Chivu, something different is starting to emerge. Faster ball recovery, greater aggression, wing-backs more disciplined (though this time Bastoni pushed forward more than usual), more intensity — even if some of it faded in the second half. 

Something new was seen in Cagliari, especially in the first half when Inter Milan dominated across the pitch, showing the usual flaw: lack of ruthlessness.

Esposito’s breakthrough and Chivu’s cautious leadership

The “mirror syndrome” of this team is hard to die. This Inter Milan, like Inzaghi’s, remains so dazzled by its own beauty that it risks stumbling at the decisive moment. Too many missed goals kept the result hanging in the balance until nine minutes from the end, when Francesco Pio Esposito finally broke the deadlock. It was the most awaited goal — and, as fate would have it, it came in front of his brother Sebastiano.

Now it will be important not to place too many expectations on this young player, who everyone highlights for one quality: seriousness. 

Chivu himself has taken care to keep him, as much as possible, away from the spotlight. “Let’s go slowly, he was born in 2005: he has his future ahead, he must continue like this. Everyone recognises his qualities, but he has room to grow and must keep his feet on the ground.” Staying grounded will be the hardest task for a youngster on whom even the Italian national team has placed great hopes.

We were saying — a different Inter Milan. It’s clear that so far Chivu has preferred not to touch too much a structure that worked well, but that at the end of last season began to show cracks. 

His “I’m not stupid,” echoing Mourinho, explained more than any formation about his idea: in the most important game of this early season — called by some a turning point — he chose to start Luis Henrique.

The Brazilian, however, along with the lack of clinical finishing up front, was one of the few negatives of the Sardinian evening. 

Shy, awkward, unconvincing, Henrique looked still unfit for a system he should theoretically know well, given that at Marseille with De Zerbi he played the same role, albeit on the left. It took an hour of play to see an acceleration and a dribble — too little for a player signed for €25 million (£21.5m).

The risk is ending up with another Dalbert or Lazaro — a winger adapted as a fifth midfielder. Too early for harsh judgments, but the feeling right now does not favour the Brazilian. 

The hope, especially for Chivu and Ausilio, is that he can shake off the insecurities weighing on him. Facing an entire season with only Dumfries available (since Darmian is unsuitable as a wing-back) is a very big risk Inter Milan cannot afford.

Source: Fcinter1908.it