Inter continues to concede avoidable goals, often late in matches and due to individual errors. This trend, which began under Inzaghi, has not yet been rectified by Chivu.
Walid Cheddira celebrates after scoring Sassuolo`s first goal against Inter at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium, Milan, September 21, 2025.
Walid Cheddira scored virtually unopposed in Inter`s penalty area, with fluid passes exposing a passive defense (Acerbi, Akanji, Carlos Augusto, Dimarco). Goalkeeper Josep Martinez was justifiably furious, having seen his clean sheet slip away. This goal is merely the latest in a series of seven conceded by Inter in their first four Serie A matches, highlighting a defensive problem that transcends mere statistics, pointing instead to persistent patterns of conceding goals.
Defensive Alarm
This defensive vulnerability was already apparent towards the end of last season under Simone Inzaghi, but Cristian Chivu has yet to rectify it. Unlike Napoli, who demonstrate solid defensive resilience (only one goal conceded in their first three matches), Inter continues to struggle. Crucial defensive errors marked last season, such as the loss to Lazio (with Pedro`s penalty and Bisseck`s handball) and the Champions League final. Adding the 3-0 defeat against Milan in the Coppa Italia semi-final completes the picture. Nevertheless, the necessary adjustments have not yet been observed this season.
Blatant Errors
While the Club World Cup might have been an opportunity for Chivu to better grasp Inter`s dynamics, a different start was expected in the league. Instead, the same errors have recurred. A closer look at the seven goals conceded in the first four league matches makes this clear. After a deceptive clean sheet against Torino, easily avoidable goals followed: Davis`s penalty and Atta`s unchallenged strike for Udinese (with Bisseck passive); at the Stadium, Kelly`s penalty (with Akanji distracted), Yildiz`s long-range shot (with Sommer`s imperfect save), Khephren Thuram`s free header among three defenders, and Adzic`s goal from afar due to another goalkeeping uncertainty. Cheddira`s goal against Sassuolo was a collective error. Can a team aiming to reclaim the Scudetto after last season`s disappointment truly afford such blatant mistakes?
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