Inter Scudetto Hopes: Can Chivu Overcome Injuries & Defensive Woes? | OneFootball

Despite a sudden managerial change in the summer, Inter headed into the 2025/26 Serie A season as one of the leading candidates to win the Scudetto. However, new boss Cristian Chivu has endured a mixed start to his tenure at San Siro.

Referee Maurizio Mariani stole the spotlight for all the wrong reasons when Napoli beat Inter 3-1 in a mouth-watering league clash on Saturday. The 43-year-old awarded a phantom penalty to Antonio Conte’s side in the first half, setting the tone for Napoli’s controversial win.

Inter’s slip-up at the Maradona Stadium marked their third defeat in the opening eight Serie A matches. As such, Chivu must become the first manager since Massimiliano Allegri in 2015/16 to overcome such a dreadful start to the season and guide his side to the Scudetto.

However, with Napoli firing on all cylinders and Milan free of the distraction of European football, that task seems nothing short of Herculean. First of all, Inter must hold up their end of the bargain.

Meanwhile, many leading bookmakers have started to lose faith in the Nerazzurri, with the odds of Inter winning the title drifting significantly higher after their underwhelming start to the season. When taking a break from Serie A action, fans can enjoy a variety of games at casino online platforms for some added entertainment.

Entertainment has been synonymous with Inter this season, with a league-high 75% of their Serie A matches producing over 2.5 goals. Yet, 11 goals conceded after the first eight rounds is their most at the start of a new top-flight campaign in over five years.

Ample Room for Improvement

Despite scoring at will, defensive woes threaten to undermine Inter’s title bid. Indeed, Chivu’s charges have bagged 19 goals so far this season – at least three more than any other team in Serie A. However, they’ve been vulnerable at the back, keeping just three clean sheets in eight games.

Furthermore, the Nerazzurri have only registered two shutouts across their last ten home league outings. With that in mind, Chivu must address his side’s defensive frailties to increase their chances of dethroning Napoli. That could prove easier said than done, though.

Francesco Acerbi has been Inter’s defensive cornerstone since joining the club from Lazio in 2023. But he is already 37, and his game time requires careful management. The same applies to 33-year-old Stefan de Vrij, who has struggled for form this season.

It’s also worth noting that Inter could soon sever ties with Yann Bisseck. The German center-back has grown frustrated with a lack of first-team opportunities and is reportedly ready to wave goodbye to San Siro. Therefore, Inter must add to their defensive options in January to maintain squad balance.

Injury Woes

Several first-team stars were often troubled by injuries during Simone Inzaghi’s last season in charge, resulting in Inter’s collapse toward the end of the 2024/25 campaign. Despite fighting for the treble in mid-April, the Nerazzurri finished the season empty-handed.

Unfortunately, Chivu has been unable to stop this ominous trend. Standout striker Marcus Thuram has been on the sidelines for a month now. Meanwhile, Hakan Calhanoglu was marred by a hamstring injury earlier in the season. On top of that, Inter lost Henrikh Mkhitaryan to a thigh problem against Napoli.

While Inter’s title aspirations have taken several blows early on, the season is still young enough for a turnaround. Injuries could play a decisive role in shaping Inter’s season. Extended absences for crucial contributors like Thuram, Calhanoglu, and Mkhitaryan could disrupt Inter’s rhythm.

However, if all key players can regularly stay away from the treatment room, Inter could mount a serious Scudetto challenge and re-establish themselves as genuine title contenders.