Upon arriving at Inter`s new hotel in downtown Charlotte, a financial hub dotted with skyscrapers and tech incubators, Cristian Chivu was greeted by a wave of intense heat. The temperature in this new base city for Inter, as they prepare for the World Cup last 16, was 20 degrees higher than in autumnal Seattle, soaring to 35°C. This stifling air will make his already demanding training sessions even tougher, especially compared to the recent past.
The new coach took a tour with his staff on their day off, noting the nearby Nascar Hall of Fame. North Carolina is a state steeped in America`s most popular car racing. It`s all about speed – the very thing Chivu demands from his team: speed in thought, in pressing, and in ball circulation, all oriented vertically. He`s been insisting on this with noticeable success. The “soft revolution” started by the Romanian just 19 days ago is largely built on this principle.
The Method
It`s best to avoid “isms,” which often don`t appeal to Eastern Europeans, and no “Chivuist” movement has been founded yet, but Cristian`s new method is already evident in training. For instance, pitch sessions now last about 30 minutes longer than during the Inzaghi era, exceeding 90 minutes, and are significantly more intense. While there will be time for a deeper overhaul of physical preparation with the new head, Stefano Rapetti, incorporating data and artificial intelligence – an area that was more conservative under the previous management and often targeted by the club – the immediate task on this American trip was simply to reawaken a team drained in body and mind.
After two lackluster matches, the hard-fought physical battle won against the determined Argentinians showed clear progress. Offensive pressing indicators don`t lie: the press line has been pushed higher than the seasonal average, precisely what Chivu aims for once the team returns home.
Like Hornets
Pre-training gym work, previously less consistent, has become a welcome fixture, focusing on structural and general prevention. The positive locker room climate, built over years by Simone Inzaghi, has been inherited and quickly replicated by Chivu. However, their personalities differ; the new coach prefers targeted individual conversations with his players rather than relying on established “senators” or a council of elders. Previous hierarchies might become more fluid.
While it was difficult to see a young player immediately thrown into the mix before, this is Cristian`s supreme mission. Pio Esposito chose to stay when he understood the new direction: play goes to those who deserve it, regardless of age or tenure. Chivu wants his players to be young and audacious, almost annoying to opponents, like the residents of Charlotte, a city that features an insect in its logo. During the War of Independence, the English called the village a “hornet`s nest” because it refused to surrender.
