MILAN (AP) 鈥� Cristian Chivu鈥檚 brand of brotherly love could be just what needs to dominate Italian soccer again this season.
More than a few eyebrows were raised when the inexperienced Chivu was hired last year to replace Simone Inzaghi as Inter coach. The Nerazzurri were fresh off a in the most lopsided Champions League final in history.
鈥淓veryone was thinking that Inter was, let鈥檚 say dying, after what happened,鈥� Inter midfielder Hakan 脟alhano臒lu said in a recent interview with beIN Sports Australia.
Chivu had only ever overseen 13 matches in Serie A but his fresh approach as a coach and new ideas reinvigorated Inter as he steered the Nerazzurri to the Italian league and cup double.
Moreover, the 45-year-old Chivu鈥檚 closeness to the players has pulled the team even more together.
鈥淲ith Chivu it is something different, he cares more about the person, not about the football,鈥� 脟alhano臒lu added. 鈥淔or him it鈥檚 more important how you are, how you feel, and he鈥檚 open to everything. He gives you the confidence to feel good.
鈥淥f course, he has tactical things 鈥� but (outside) of the football he鈥檚 like a brother or a friend, you can talk to him about whatever you want, he鈥檚 always close to you. 鈥� That helped me a lot.鈥�
Inter has been boosted by a distinctive English flavor this offseason. It has already signed England defenders and and looks set to also land their Three Lions teammate Curtis Jones.
The Serie A champion kicks off the defense of its title on Saturday.
Here鈥檚 a look at Inter鈥檚 potential challengers:
Old coaches, new teams
Napoli finished runner-up last season and would arguably have pushed Inter harder had it not been plagued by injuries all campaign.
But it is having to deal with its sixth coach in little more than three years after at the end of the season.
And it鈥檚 a familiar face in charge. Former Juventus and AC Milan coach was given the reins, despite having been following 鈥渁n unequivocal failure鈥� of a season.
鈥� whose reputation as one of the top emerging coaches in Europe took a hit at Manchester United 鈥� has taken over from Allegri at Milan, which ended up finishing fifth last season after struggling toward the end of the campaign.
Milan has added some much-needed firepower as it smashed its transfer record from Paris Saint-Germain for more than 70 million euros ($80 million).
Lazio and Atalanta are also among the nine Serie A teams to have changed coaches during the offseason. , which had a tough season last year in its first without Gian Piero Gasperini.
Former Italy coach has replaced Sarri at Lazio.
Stability at Roma
While three of the teams that finished in the top seven last season have changed coaches, there will be added stability at Juventus and Roma.
Roma qualified for the Champions League for the first time since 2018 in its first season under Gasperini.
That was despite between Gasperini and Roma’s special adviser 鈥� and former coach 鈥� Claudio Ranieri, that ultimately led to the latter .
Gasperini has added talented youngsters and and could be a serious challenger for a first Serie A title in more than 25 years.
At Juventus, Luciano Spalletti will be in his first full season with the team after the former Napoli and Italy coach took over in October. Juventus was pushing hard for a Champions League spot last season and Spalletti was rewarded with a new two-year contract but the Bianconeri ultimately finished sixth.
Como the dark horse
Indeed it was Como which surprised everyone by and the final Champions League spot.
Como, which had never qualified for any continental competition in its 119-year history, was playing in the fourth division of Italian soccer just seven years ago.
What former Arsenal and Barcelona player Cesc F脿bregas has achieved in his two years in charge is nothing short of remarkable.
And it was no fluke. Como had the meanest defense in the league but still managed to play an exciting and attacking brand of football.
It has bolstered its already stingy defense with the signing of Trevoh Chalobah from Chelsea for 30 million euros and, perhaps most importantly, managed for at least another season.
After last season, no one would rule out Como making an improbable title push. However, it remains to be seen how its young players 鈥� nearly all of whom have never played in the Champions League 鈥� cope with the double challenge of European and domestic competition.
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