Cristian Chivu Faces ‘Ultimate Test’ As Inter Milan Head Coach With Vital Serie A Showdown Against Napoli | OneFootball

Tonight at San Siro will reveal whether Cristian Chivu and his Inter have truly turned a corner, as the Nerazzurri face Napoli in a match that could define their season.

According to Corriere della Sera, via FCInter1908, this is the “ultimate test” for Chivu’s Inter.

After the defeat in Naples in November and the derby loss that followed soon after, tonight offers the chance to confirm whether the team has genuinely changed.

The stakes are obvious: victory would send Inter seven points clear, while failure would reopen the Scudetto race.

The newspaper underlines how different the context feels compared to late October. Back then, Inter lost their bearings at the Maradona and slipped to a 3-1 defeat.

Inter Vs Napoli – Chivu Wants Mature Performance

MILAN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 09: Cristian Chivu, Head Coach of Internazionale, looks on prior to the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and SS Lazio at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on November 09, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Now, Chivu begins the second half of the season four points ahead of Antonio Conte, having clawed back ten points since the early rounds when Napoli sat on nine points and Inter on three.

Chivu himself senses the importance of the moment.

On the eve of the match, he spoke of an Inter that is “more mature and more consistent.”

With thirteen consecutive matches without a win against Milan, Napoli and Juventus, the coach knows this fixture carries psychological weight.

There are also tangible changes from the first meeting.

Marcus Thuram is now available, Yann Bisseck and Manuel Akanji will form the spine of the defence, and Piotr Zielinski has overtaken Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

As Corriere della Sera notes, these are not minor tweaks, but adjustments that have given Inter greater solidity and mobility, both with and without the ball.