Chivu: ‘Inter are the team to beat in 2026-27, let the directors do their jobs’ | OneFootball

Cristian Chivu has shared his thoughts ahead of the 2026-27 Serie A season and Inter’s upcoming pre-season friendly against rivals Juventus, and claims that the Nerazzurri are the ‘team to beat’ heading into the new campaign.

Inter will begin their defence of the Serie A title with a visit from Monza in just over a fortnight on August 22, but still have a pair of friendlies to get through first, including a Derby d’Italia against Juventus in Perth on Saturday (12.00 BST, 21.00 local time).

On the even of the Juventus clash, Chivu sat down to give his assessment of where his team is at this stage of pre-season, the areas he feels may still need improving and the togetherness that he has seen from his squad so far this summer.

Chivu insists Inter are still the team to beat in 2026-27

Chivu admitted that he would still like to see a few new players come through the doors before the end of the summer transfer window, but urged for calm and says that there is still plenty of time to get more deals over the line.

“We’re still missing a few pieces, and we still have a few weeks to get ourselves into the best possible shape for the opening league match,” Chivu told Inter’s media channels.

“The most important thing so far is that we’ve had very few physical issues. At the moment, that’s the most encouraging aspect, and we’re happy about that.”

Chivu was asked who he thinks will be Inter’s biggest rivals for the Serie A title in 2026-27.

MILAN, ITALY – MAY 17: Cristian Chivu, Head Coach of FC Internazionale Milano, looks on during the trophy presentation after the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Hellas Verona FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on May 17, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

He replied: “I haven’t quite worked that one out yet. It’s the usual teams, the ones who want to make life difficult for the reigning Italian champions. We’re the team to beat.

“Tomorrow is a friendly, a match that will help with our preparations. We want to see a good level of fitness and some of our principles of play, even if the legs aren’t fresh and we’re not yet operating at full capacity.”

It has been suggested by some that Inter have struggled to bring in new players at times this season because they have been unable to shift some of the unwanted members of their current squad first.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 05: Benjamin Pavard of FC Internazionale in possession during the pre-season match between AC Milan and FC Internazionale at Optus Stadium on August 05, 2026 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Janelle St Pierre/Getty Images)

Chivu says: “We’ve been calm from the start, and we know the quality we have in the squad. We need to raise the level and bring in players who can fit into an already close-knit group that has achieved great things. We’ll do our best to complete a puzzle that, at the moment, is still missing a few pieces.”

And looking ahead to Saturday’s clash against Juventus and his relationship with Luciano Spalletti, Chivu added: “We’re all focused on our preparations. I’ll say hello to Spalletti tomorrow.”

Chivu was also asked whether Inter have a ‘deadline’ to bring in a new right wing-back following the departure of Denzel Dumfries, who remains unreplaced.

MILAN, ITALY – APRIL 17: Denzel Dumfries of FC Internazionale Milano reacts as the team warms up prior to the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Cagliari Calcio at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on April 17, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

“We haven’t set a deadline,” Chivu admitted. “We know we need to be patient. We’d made our choices, but different circumstances meant those moves didn’t materialise. We’re working to find someone who can bring greater quality and experience. We’ll let our sporting directors do their job.”

And what does he expect to see from his players against Juventus on Saturday?

“We need minutes. The best thing we can do is give everyone as many minutes as possible. I don’t have a fixed starting XI; I rotated throughout last season as well. There aren’t eleven guaranteed starters. The choices depend on the situation, the opposition, the number of games in a short space of time and the players’ fitness.”