Chivu’s team has been conceding goals far too often in the final 15 minutes, confirming that they need to regain their solidity. And the goalkeeper rarely looks confident
The crack is Nerazzurri-colored and is widening rapidly, faster and faster. Inter leaves the Franchi with a meager, lucky point, the result of a match where Chivu’s squad took quite a few risks: Harrison’s left-footed shot that grazed the post, Kean’s right-footed shot from a step and a half away, Gudmundsson’s header that went just wide, and Ndour’s easy tap-in with 13 minutes left. The goal that allowed Vanoli to claw his way back into a match they might even have deserved to win.
Meanwhile, a stat: Inter has conceded nine of its 24 league goals in the final 15 minutes. The latest came in Florence, the second in a row after the one against Atalanta (82′). A clear sign that they need to regain their solidity, especially in the closing stages. Against the Viola, Chivu—suspended and in the stands—changed the defensive setup at the end of the first half, shaking up both the marking and the build-up play. In the first 45 minutes, Inter played with Akanji in the center, Bisseck on the right, and Carlos Augusto on the left. It didn’t go well: the Swiss defender struggled to mark Kean—who broke free a couple of times—while the Brazilian was booked a minute before halftime (already on a yellow card, he’ll miss Inter vs. Roma). Chivu watched the match from a skybox in the stands. After seeing how much trouble Akanji was having with Kean, he took it upon himself to change the lineup: Acerbi—who hadn’t played in a league match since January 17—came in, and Carlos went out. The Italian international marked Kean, with Akanji on the right and Bisseck on the left. The German was the best player in the back line. He pushed forward consistently—a pass to Dumfries on the right after a 20-meter run was particularly commendable—and defended well, too. He was the only bright spot in a back line struggling to find stability.
More mistakes— The question is legitimate: Could Sommer have done more on the goal? The answer leans toward yes, perhaps, because Gudmundsson’s shot wasn’t unstoppable and Ndour was lurking on the rebound like a hawk. The rest is reflected in the numbers: Inter hasn’t won in three Serie A matches (four if you count the Coppa Italia). They’ve racked up three draws and one loss. They’ve conceded three goals and scored only two. Lautaro’s absence is weighing heavily. When play resumes on Easter Sunday, Roma will visit San Siro. The title race hinges on this match and on Napoli vs. Milan, set for Easter Monday. Chivu has two weeks to patch up the crack.
