What works and what doesn’t for Inter Milan after Monterrey draw

A 1-1 start to the Club World Cup leaves Inter Milan with more questions than answers. Here's what La Gazzetta dello Sport highlighted post-match

What was a nerve-wracking exam night for many in Italy was something similar for Inter Milan — their first test at the Club World Cup, ending in a 1-1 draw against Monterrey. Here's how La Gazzetta dello Sport via Fcinter1908 summed up the key takeaways.

“A meager point,” the paper writes, “but it could have been three — or zero — depending on your perspective. 

InterMilan  will leave California having digested the game, which was important after the Bavarian shock, and with a few new ideas to test. 

But scattered problems from a draining season persist and need immediate fixing, or they risk exiting the tournament early.”

The mental and physical condition is far from ideal — hardly a surprise given recent history. There’s very little time to reset mentally and physically. 

Up next are the modest Japanese side Urawa, followed by Marcelo Gallardo’s River Plate — far more combative than Monterrey.

Chivu's tactical tweaks, fatigue, and the need for reinforcements

There are tactical changes underway: Inter Milan is now defending zonally on set pieces, a risky shift that still needs refining. 

Interestingly, Chivu did ask for man-marking on Sergio Ramos, showing the hybrid nature of this transition. The high pressing seen in the second half — something Chivu wants consistently — is encouraging but also dangerous for a tired squad, as it exposes too much space behind.

Inter Milan started with a 3-5-2, but it was shelved quicker than usual. For around 30 minutes, they played with a back four, with first Mkhitaryan as a playmaker, then Zalewski and Lautaro behind a slightly advanced Thuram. This flexibility didn’t yield much, but experimenting is necessary to find a new identity.

Scoring remains a struggle, something Chivu acknowledged post-match. Inter Milan can’t rely solely on Thuram and Lautaro (“ThuLa”). 

Expectations couldn’t be high for Sebastiano Esposito, recently relegated with Empoli and with his future seemingly away from the club. Taremi has other matters to deal with, leaving a glaring void behind Inter Milan’s main attackers.

In terms of positives, Luis Henrique stood out: he brings unpredictability, takes on defenders, and never hides — traits Inter Milan has long lacked. 

He’ll be one to watch. Sučić made a quieter impact but is tactically valuable, operating naturally in a two-man midfield just like he does with his national team.

Falling behind early, with memories of the May 31 collapse still lingering, made for a tough mental setting. But this wasn’t the same Inter Milan seen in Munich. It wasn’t just about a weaker opponent — there was more fight, more resistance, and a hint of pride.

That pride — self-respect, really — could be the fuel Inter Milan needs moving forward.