By Michael Nsikan Richard – December 29th, 2025
When Inter Milan announced Christian Chivu as Simeone Inzaghi’s replacement in June 2025, the appointment raised more doubts than excitement.
The club had to act quickly to replace Inzaghi ahead of Inter’s trip to the USA for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, and after being unable to acquire their first choice, Cesc Fabregas, they turned to their former treble-winning defender, who had managed just 13 matches at Parma.
The doubts were understandable, as Chivu was taking over a yet-to-recover squad fresh from a humiliating 5-0 Champions League final defeat to PSG.
He had barely 4 months of senior management experience.
Many critics predicted failure, but 6 months later, they’ve all been proved wrong.
Evident Numbers
Chivu has been doing commendable work so far at the Nerazzurri. In addition to guiding Inter to the top of the Serie A table, he has helped his squad regain confidence after a heartbreaking 2024/25 season. The transformation has been remarkable, given the timeframe he assumed office.
Chivu has turned Inter into a goal-scoring entity, with Inter netting a league-high 34 goals in 15 rounds, demonstrating their attacking prowess, according to SempreInter.
While Inter currently sits in first place on the league table, the San Siro giants boast a narrow one-point lead over second-place AC Milan, making this one of the most competitive Serie A campaigns in recent history.
The Chivu Method
What has made Chivu’s approach so effective?
Discipline, Belief, Structure, and Confidence.
His work with Inter’s youth teams from 2018 to 2024, where he won the Primavera title in his first season, provided valuable preparation.
He has successfully balanced continuity with necessary changes. He retained the core principles that made Inter successful under Inzaghi while implementing strategic squad reformations.
Chivu understands the Inter DNA, having won the famous Black and Blue stripes for 7 years as a player, including that magical 2010 treble season under Jose Mourinho.
Looking Ahead
With only 4 points separating the top 5 teams, this season’s Scudetto race promises excitement. Juventus, with the legendary Luciano Spalletti now at the helm, sits just 4 points behind Inter.
AC Milan is one point back, while Napoli remains dangerous.
Chivu is currently chasing realistic expectations. This is a rebuilding project, a new era with younger players integrated into the squad. Rome was not built in a day, and neither are championship dynasties.
A New Era at San Siro
Rebuilding confidence after a 5-0 final disgrace can take seasons, but Chive has done it in months by enhancing the players to thrive in a high-pressure title race.
Whether Inter maintains its position at the summit is yet to be seen. The Serie A title race is very unpredictable, and Chivu’s inexperience at this level could be tested in many ways.
But what is undeniable is that he has exceeded all reasonable expectations for a manager in his first top-flight season.
He has proven that understanding a club’s structure, earning players’ trust, and implementing clear tactical principles can matter as much as experience. He has also shown that taking calculated risks sometimes pays off in unexpected ways.
Most importantly, Chivu has given Inter Milan things they desperately needed after the previous season’s disappointment, which are hope, goals, and a genuine belief that this season can be special, though the journey has only just begun.
NEW: Inter Milan VS Como – Serie A
