Inter Milan’s new coach, Cristian Chivu, emphasizes that the team is still developing as they prepare to face Torino in their Serie A season opener. After a season of near-misses, including a Champions League final defeat, Inter aims to start strong under Chivu. The team has bolstered its squad with new signings and is focused on improving both individually and collectively. Torino, however, will be looking to upset the odds, but face a tough challenge against an Inter side that has dominated their recent encounters.
Cristian Chivu, the newly appointed head coach of Inter Milan, has tempered expectations ahead of their Serie A season opener against Torino, stating that the team “are still a work in progress.” The Nerazzurri are looking to bounce back after a mixed previous season that saw them fall short in both domestic and European competitions.
Last season was a rollercoaster for Inter. They were defeated by their city rivals, AC Milan, in the Coppa Italia semi-finals and narrowly missed out on the Serie A title to Napoli by a single point on the final day. The campaign concluded with a painful defeat against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final, which led to Simone Inzaghi's departure to Al-Hilal.
Inzaghi leaves behind a significant legacy, having guided Inter to the Serie A title in the 2023-24 season, along with two Coppa Italia triumphs and two Champions League final appearances. Filling his shoes will be a daunting task for Chivu.
Following unsuccessful approaches to Como’s Cesc Fabregas and former Inter player Patrick Vieira, the club turned to Cristian Chivu. Chivu, a member of Inter's 2010 treble-winning squad and a former youth coach, comes with a solid reputation, having successfully steered Parma away from relegation last season. His appointment marks a significant shift for Inter, entrusting the team to a coach with deep ties to the club.
Inter's decision to appoint Chivu means they will begin a Serie A season with a foreign coach for the first time since 2016, when Frank de Boer was at the helm. This reflects a departure from recent trends and a willingness to embrace a new vision under Chivu's leadership.
However, history suggests that opening-day success with a foreign coach is not guaranteed. The last time the Nerazzurri won their opening league match under a foreign coach was in 2003, when Hector Cuper led them to a 2-0 home victory against Modena. Since then, they have recorded three draws (two under Jose Mourinho and one under Rafael Benitez) and one defeat under de Boer in their last four opening-day league games. Chivu will be hoping to buck this trend and start his tenure with a victory.
A Nerazzurro bond #ForzaInter pic.twitter.com/fMQCGTM2yv
— Inter (@Inter_en) August 24, 2025
Inter, who recently participated in the Club World Cup, have been active in the summer transfer market, adding five new players to their squad, including Luis Henrique and Andy Diouf from Marseille and Lens, respectively. These additions are expected to bolster the team's strength and provide Chivu with more options as he shapes his squad.
Ahead of Monday’s Serie A curtain-raiser, Chivu shared his thoughts on the team's progress and the season ahead. “We’ve worked well over these four weeks. It was a short but intense pre-season. We didn’t face too many difficulties. The team trained hard, and the players gave their all,” he said.
“As always, we did some things well and others less so. We’re still a work in progress, and we want to keep improving, both individually and collectively. We’re ready to begin, and we can’t wait,” Chivu added, emphasizing the ongoing development of the team.
“I’m proud to be Inter’s coach. I’m aware of the responsibility and what I try to bring to the team. When you give everything you have – time, energy, and knowledge – things become simpler,” he concluded, highlighting his commitment to the role and the team.
Meanwhile, Torino have a history of drawing their recent season openers in Serie A. They played out a goalless draw against Cagliari in 2023-24, followed by a 2-2 draw with Milan in 2024-25. They will be looking to break this pattern and secure a positive result against Inter.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Inter – Marcus Thuram
Marcus Thuram, with 18 goal involvements last season, has a knack for performing well against Torino. He has scored four times against them in Serie A, more than against any other opponent in the league. This includes his only career hat-trick in the top five European leagues, achieved in October. During the 2024-25 season, Thuram recorded a personal best of 14 goals, his highest in a single season across Europe’s top leagues.
Torino – Che Adams
Che Adams, who joined Torino after helping Southampton return to the Premier League, had a strong debut season in Italy. The Scottish international scored nine goals and assisted three in 36 Serie A appearances, finishing as the club’s top goalscorer.
MATCH PREDICTION: INTER WIN
Inter have an impressive record against Torino, remaining unbeaten in their last 12 Serie A clashes, winning 11 and drawing just once. They have also won each of their last six meetings against Torino in the league, with an aggregate score of 12-2. Their only longer winning streak against Torino was between September 2002 and September 2008, with seven consecutive wins.
This fixture marks the sixth time Inter and Torino will meet on the opening day of a Serie A season. In their previous five season-openers, Inter are undefeated with three wins and two draws, maintaining clean sheets in all matches and outscoring Torino 4-0.
Torino have struggled at San Siro, going 18 Serie A matches without a win at the Meazza (five draws and 13 losses), with their last victory dating back to April 2016 (a 2-1 win over Inter).
Among the 2025-26 Serie A teams, only Lecce (23) and Hellas Verona (67) have longer current winless streaks at San Siro.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Inter – 63.6%
Draw – 19.9%
Torino – 16.5%