​Cristian Chivu remains confident that Inter will not back down from any challenge, whether in Serie A or in Europe, as he aims to build on the Double triumph and chart a new course with fresh ideas for players like Benjamin Pavard and Andy Diouf. Last season marked his first full campaign as Inter’s head coach in Serie A, and he closed it with both the league title and the Coppa Italia, signaling that the bar is high and expectations are soaring for the team to carry that momentum forward.
Pre-season training is set to begin today at Appiano Gentile, and Chivu sat down with Inter president Beppe Marotta for a pre-season press conference. “The most important thing right now is motivation, because ambition can never be taken for granted, and we want to push on to what’s next,” he said. “It was a strong season, but we must not stop here. I’ve got 50 games under my belt now, not 13. I’ll give my best; we want to compete on every front and aim to do even better than last year.”
Inter is undergoing a refresh of the squad, with veterans such as Yann Sommer, Stefan de Vrij, Francesco Acerbi, and Denzel Dumfries leaving the club. “We lost players who wrote history here, and we thank them for their contributions,” Chivu noted. “We blend youth with experience, and our squad is competitive. We want energy and courage, without complaints.”
During the celebrations, Lautaro Martínez lifted the Coppa Campioni d’Italia trophy after Inter’s win over Hellas Verona in May, underscoring the success of a season that was stellar domestically—yet fell short in Europe. Chivu acknowledged that Inter did not achieve all their objectives in the Champions League, exiting at the playoff stages, but he stressed that no one can have everything. “We cannot have everything in life,” he said. “We had two disappointing results in Europe, but I take the positives from what we achieved and the lessons they teach us.”
As reigning league champions, Inter will begin the new campaign with a clear message: they do not fear anybody. Chivu asserted that he has nothing to prove beyond proving to himself and to the players that they can continue to grow. “I still have a lot of responsibilities, doubts, and duties toward these lads, even after lifting two trophies last season. We always start from scratch.” The next chapter for Inter promises renewed ambition, a blend of experience and youth, and a determination to push for more, both at home and on the continental stage.