Intensity – Chivu Overhauls Inter Milan Athletic Preparation Work From Inzaghi Era | OneFootball

Cristian Chivu is overhauling the athletic preparation at Inter Milan from the Simone Inzaghi, focusing on greater intensity.

Today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews, report that the Romanian is demanding more, longer, and higher-intensity sessions.

Cristian Chivu is taking charge of his first preseason at Inter Milan. The players all arrived back in training this weekend.

And the first order of business for the 44-year-old coach is to get the players into physical shape.

And already, reports the Gazzetta, the differences are very evident compared to in the last few seasons under Simone Inzaghi.

The newspaper note that the intensity is considerably higher with Chivu and his athletic coach Stefano Rapetti.

Chivu Ratchets Up The Intensity In Training At Inter From Inzaghi Era

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – JUNE 30: Alessandro Bastoni #95 and Nicolo Barella #23 of FC Internazionale Milano warm up prior to the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 round of 16 match between FC Internazionale Milano and Fluminense FC at Bank of America Stadium on June 30, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

According to the Gazzetta, the training sessions are more frequent under Chivu than Inzaghi.

Furthermore, the Romanian has increased the length of the sessions. They now run around ninety minutes, the length of a match.

Under Inzaghi, the training sessions tended to run around an hour.

Furthermore, Chivu has the players in the gym more. Strength training is something the new coach sees as essential for preventing muscle injuries.

Ultimately, Chivu’s goal is to have the players at a higher athletic level than in the past.

The 44-year-old is keen to have fewer drop-offs in intensity in the second halves of matches than Inter have in recent seasons.

Furthermore, the Gazzetta note, Chivu also want to switch to a 3-4-2-1 formation.

And with three strikers or attacking midfielders on the pitch, there will be a greater need than ever for the entire team to cover a lot of ground and support the attack.