Two Key Players Struggling To Adjust As Cristian Chivu Changes Tactics At Inter Milan | OneFootball

Federico Dimarco and Henrikh Mkhitaryan are particularly struggling to adjust to the tactical changes Cristian Chivu is making at Inter Milan.

Today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews, note how neither of the pair quite fit into the 3-4-2-1 formation that the new coach has been experimenting with.

Cristian Chivu has been Inter Milan coach for a couple of weeks now.

Therefore, the Romanian has had a number of training sessions to put his stamp on the team.

Moreover, Chivu has been on the bench for two Inter matches so far. He has coached the Nerazzurri in Club World Cup matches against Monterrey and Red Diamonds.

Meanwhile, the Nerazzurri have one more group stage match to go in the tournament. Watch Inter Milan vs River Plate for FREE with DAZN on any device!

These matches have presented an invaluable opportunity to observe how Chivu will try and change the team.

Sometimes, the 44-year-old has stuck closely with the 3-5-2 shape that Simone Inzaghi had virtually always used.

However, Chivu has also tested out a 3-4-2-1 formation. That was the starting formation for Saturday’s clash with Urawa Red Diamonds.

Dimarco & Mkhitaryan Struggle To Adapt As Chivu Tests Out Change In Shape At Inter

PASADENA, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 17: Henrikh Mkhitaryan #22 of FC Internazionale Milano warms up prior to the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group E match between CF Monterrey and FC Internazionale Milano at Rose Bowl Stadium on June 17, 2025 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

A big question with this change in formation has been how certain players would adapt.

Inzaghi’s 3-5-2 formation had gotten the best out of a number of players in the squad.

And there are some early signs that certain players in the squad aren’t nearly as comfortable in a 3-4-2-1 formation.

Wingback Federico Dimarco had been one of the big success stories under Inzaghi at Inter.

The Italian international had an enormous amount of freedom on the pitch, and particularly in the final third, under Inzaghi.

On the other hand, in the 3-4-2-1 Dimarco has to stay wider and deeper. This is because, with two attacking midfielders, it is harder for the 27-year-old to drift infield without stepping on other players’ toes.

Meanwhile, Henrikh Mkhitaryan was another of Inzaghi’s most-used players. The Armenian was the player who brought balance to the left side of Inter’s team.

But the role that Mkhitaryan really thrived in under Inzaghi was on the left of the midfield trio.

The 36-year-old doesn’t quite have a natural position now, either in the midfield double pivot, or as an attacking midfielder.