Chivu’s First Act at the Club World Cup: A Call to Enjoy the Moment
Cristian Chivu didn’t waste words before leading Inter Milan into their Club World Cup debut. Facing Monterrey, he told his players to 'enjoy yourselves'—an instruction you don’t always hear in cutthroat tournament football. But for Chivu, who stepped in after Simone Inzaghi, this was about more than just strategy. It was about the moment.
Instead of sticking with the familiar 3-5-2 system, Chivu rang the changes for his first official match. He shifted to a 3-4-2-1, pushing in two attacking midfielders behind his forwards. He wanted to inject creativity, and the decision set the tone for how Inter approached the game. With a new shape, they tried to impose themselves, though the sharpness wasn’t quite there. Fitness still lagged behind what’s needed at this level, a point Chivu was quick to admit once the final whistle blew. He couldn’t hide his frustration at another match where promising attacks fizzled out just before becoming goals.
Even so, there were bright sparks. Among the debutants was Brazilian winger Luis Henrique, thrown in despite hardly any training with the group. He came on as a sub and showed why the club moved fast to sign him. Then there was Sebastiano Esposito, the 22-year-old forward, who started alongside Inter’s talisman Lautaro Martínez. Chivu saw enough from both to stay positive about what new talent could mean for the coming fixtures.
Tactical Tweaks, Rising Talent, and Monterrey’s Challenge
Inter found themselves facing a Monterrey team that wasn’t there just to make up the numbers. Monterrey’s style was clear—they pressed hard and kept the ball moving quickly, trying to break through Inter’s lines. Chivu pointed out their aggression and individual quality. And while Monterrey’s captain, Sergio Ramos, had tried to stir the pot by highlighting Inter’s limited prep time, Chivu stayed cool on the sidelines and told his players to keep focused.
The game finished 1-1. For Inter, that result felt like an itch that wouldn’t go away—a reminder they’d created enough to win but didn’t finish the job. Even so, Chivu used post-match interviews to lay out his thinking on tactics going forward. Flexibility is his keyword: sometimes it’ll be two attacking midfielders buzzing behind a striker, other times two strikers with support. He definitely doesn’t see his side as a one-shape team. The whole squad, he says, will need to adjust on the fly as the matches get tougher and fatigue sets in.
What stood out after this opener? Definitely Chivu’s calm, even as he pointed to obvious shortcomings. He spoke frankly about how training sessions would be crucial—not just for tactics, but to get players sharp enough to deliver on the chances they create. He’s betting that with more time on the pitch together, the blend of rising talents and seasoned names like Lautaro Martínez will find their rhythm.