Inter Milan Coach Cristian Chivu Faces Derby Dilemma Ahead Of AC Milan Showdown: Who Will Stop Leao? | OneFootball

With a week to go before the Milan derby, Corriere dello Sport highlights the biggest question facing Cristian Chivu: who will anchor the Inter Milan defence between Francesco Acerbi, Stefan De Vrij, and Yann Bisseck against Rossoneri star Rafael Leao.

All three defenders have trained at Appiano Gentile during the international break, leaving them on equal footing physically.

Yet the tactical challenge posed by Rafael Leao looms large, especially with Max Allegri’s Milan expected to abandon their front three in favour of a two-man attack featuring Leao and Pulisic.

The Roman daily warns that “Leao’s unpredictability could be Milan’s key weapon” and anticipates an approach similar to that used against Napoli, Juventus, and Roma: a compact shape and counterattacks.

Inter’s pressing game, built to recover possession high up the pitch, may therefore require adjustment.

“Against a deeper, more reactive Milan, every defender will have to maintain full concentration and be ready to sprint back. Being dragged out of position by Leao or Pulisic could be fatal.”

Inter vs Milan: Acerbi Experience Vs Bisseck Speed To Counter Leao

MILAN, ITALY – AUGUST 25: Francesco Acerbi of Internazionale looks on during the warm up prior to the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Torino FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on August 25, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Acerbi remains the most reliable in reading the game, though “keeping pace with Leao’s bursts would be impossible for him.”

His inclusion would demand constant cover from Akanji, Bastoni, and the midfield.

De Vrij faces the same issue, composure but limited acceleration.

Meanwhile Bisseck offers speed and athleticism, traits Chivu has been refining “precisely to exploit against faster forwards.”

However, “his anticipation and positional awareness still need work.”

The feeling within the Corriere newsroom is that this could be Chivu’s hardest call yet, one that “might ultimately tip the balance of the derby.”