Football, much like life, rarely adheres strictly to the script. As the Italian Serie A season of 2025/2026 unfolds, a familiar narrative of unexpected triumphs and bewildering falls is already taking shape. While some perennial contenders stumble, others, written off by many, are soaring, painting a vivid and often ironic picture of the beautiful game.
Cristian Chivu under pressure. (Getty Images)
The Bianconeri`s Unforeseen Resurgence
We`ve all been there: confidently predicting the top contenders, only to have reality playfully (or brutally) contradict us. This season, many pundits had their eyes on Antonio Conte`s revamped squad, expecting them to lead the charge. Yet, it is Juventus, the venerable Bianconeri, who have emerged as the undeniable surprise package. Despite a pre-season mired in skepticism—whispers of failed transfers and unfulfilled sales—the club with thirty-six Scudetti to its name is now flying high, boasting a perfect record after three matches.
Their recent victory over Inter Milan was particularly telling, a testament to a newfound, almost feral, desire to win. Much credit must be given to coach Igor Tudor, who seems to have reignited the Old Lady. Young talents like Yildiz and Adzic are not just playing; they are *winning* games, displaying a verve that belies their relative inexperience. It`s a stark reminder that to discount Juventus is, historically speaking, to err significantly.
Inter Milan: A Crisis Deepens
On the opposite end of the emotional spectrum, Inter Milan finds itself in an all-too-familiar quagmire. The recent loss to Juventus, following an earlier defeat at home to Udinese, places the Nerazzurri a dispiriting six points behind the league leaders after just three rounds. This isn`t merely a poor start; it`s an unsettling echo of a longer, more painful decline that began last spring. From losing the Coppa Italia to AC Milan, the Scudetto to Napoli, the Champions League to PSG, and even the Club World Cup to Fluminense, Inter`s trophy cabinet has been alarmingly empty.
This isn`t a “curse” or some enigmatic hex; it`s a succession of palpable errors. And these missteps, according to informed observers, span from the strategic choices in the transfer market to the critical appointment of the coach.
Chivu`s Conundrum: A Tactical Tightrope
At the heart of Inter`s current malaise is coach Cristian Chivu. Thrust into the demanding role despite limited top-flight experience (a mere thirteen Serie A matches under his belt, preceded by youth team coaching), Chivu faces a peculiar predicament. His ambition, it appears, is to overhaul the team`s playing style and achieve different results without, crucially, changing the protagonists: the players themselves.
It`s a strategy that evokes Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa`s famous “Gattopardo paradox” – “If we want things to stay as they are, things will have to change.” Chivu, however, seems to be attempting an inverse: changing nothing (the core squad) in the hope that *everything* (the game, the results, the defensive solidity, the team atmosphere) will magically transform. A commendable, if perhaps quixotic, endeavor.
The recent Juventus match highlighted this strategic rigidity. The starting eleven largely comprised the same players who faltered last season, with new arrival Akanji only thrown into the fray out of necessity after Bisseck`s dismal showing against Udinese. Even more perplexing were Chivu`s in-game substitutions: prioritizing veteran Darmian over Luis Henrique, a player acquired for a hefty €25 million, and opting for Bonny instead of Esposito after substituting star striker Lautaro Martinez.
The Market Miscalculation: A Question of Vision
Beyond the tactical chessboard, the summer transfer window emerges as another critical point of failure. The consensus is that Inter desperately needed substantial renovation among its starters, not merely a shuffling of the reserves. Fresh blood, renewed enthusiasm, and a distinct break from the recent past were paramount. There was a glaring need to bolster the defense, with questions even lingering around the suitability of goalkeeper Sommer.
The article poignantly highlights the missed opportunity to offload Bisseck for €32 million to Crystal Palace, particularly after his repeated errors. Instead, the team largely retained its faltering core, hoping for a different outcome with the same ingredients. This approach, as the early season results painfully demonstrate, has done little to inject the much-needed freshness and energy into a squad burdened by recent disappointments.
The Road Ahead: An Urgent Call for Change
For Inter Milan, the path forward demands an immediate and decisive course correction. The pressure on Cristian Chivu, a coach still finding his feet in the top tier, is immense. How can a manager with a modest coaching pedigree successfully persuade players, accustomed to a certain system and prone to specific errors, to suddenly adapt to a radically different, successful methodology?
Serie A is unforgiving. With Napoli already demonstrating superb form and a confident Juventus defying expectations, the race for top honors, and indeed for Champions League qualification, is tightening. Inter cannot afford to merely hope for a change of fortune. The club, from its management to its coaching staff, must swiftly address the systemic issues that continue to plague the Nerazzurri, lest this early season stumble evolves into another season of lament.
