The Nerazzurri lost the Scudetto to Napoli, the Champions League final to PSG, the Coppa Italia semifinal to Milan—and tonight’s clash with Japan’s Urawa in the Club World Cup carries far more dangers than it would under normal circumstances. Nerves and shock from the string of defeats—especially the humiliation in Munich—still linger in the air around Inter. That was clearly visible yesterday through Francesco Acerbi’s inappropriate reaction, when he threatened to beat up a PSG fan who had provoked him. An early exit from the inaugural Club World Cup, especially from what is arguably one of the easiest groups in the tournament, would be yet another major blow in a series of setbacks the Nerazzurri have suffered since April.🎙️ Cristian Chivu:”The second match of the group, considering our first result, is fundamental to get through to the next round. I really like Japanese football, I see order and discipline. Urawa are technically sound. I like their midfielder, Samuel Gustafson.” @Inter pic.twitter.com/AYSk8r37i7— Inter Xtra (@Inter_Xtra) June 21, 2025 New head coach Cristian Chivu is trying to piece things together and salvage whatever can still be saved. The Romanian coach has held a series of one-on-one meetings with Inter players, and he maintains regular private talks with captain Lautaro Martínez. Chivu wisely recognized that the best way to earn the squad’s trust is by working through the team’s leader. A positive sign is that the Argentine understands the delicacy of the situation and is fully committed to helping the new manager. The club has also done its part to support Chivu during this highly uncomfortable moment. A new fitness coach has been brought in—Stefano Rapetti, who was part of Jose Mourinho’s staff 15 years ago when Inter won the treble.Turks’ transfer offence: Three Germans, Hakan, Son, and that’s just the startHowever, it’s not just the players’ physical and mental state that’s worrying Chivu. The European runners-up will face the Japanese side tonight without six players. To the already injured group—Denzel Dumfries, Hakan Çalhanoglu, Davide Frattesi, Yann Bisseck, and Piotr Zieliński—Marcus Thuram has now been added due to health issues. In addition, Lautaro Martínez and especially Nicolo Barella and Kristjan Asllani will need to be extremely cautious, as a yellow card could rule them out of the upcoming match against River Plate—a game that, if everything goes according to predictions, should decide the top spot in the group.CWC: The Sergio thing – form is temporary, class is permanentOne piece of good news for Chivu’s squad is the weather. Unlike in Pasadena, where the heat was stifling, Seattle offers spring-like conditions that make it easier to breathe. Also, although Inter fans will again be in the minority at the stadium they share with the Seattle Seahawks and Seattle Sounders, it won’t be as overwhelming as it was in Pasadena, where Mexican supporters made it feel like a home match for them. Over the past three days, Chivu has worked on the psychological and physical recovery of key players, as well as trying to spark more confidence in new signings who’ve looked too timid so far—such as Croatian international Luka Sučić. One of Chivu’s top priorities is to restore solidity to Inter’s defensive line and eliminate the team’s noticeable drop in performance during the final 15–20 minutes of matches—one of the most visible weaknesses throughout the past season.Another key issue is managing Lautaro Martínez’s workload. The Argentine has played 50 matches for Inter over the past year, not counting his national team appearances. Now that he is the only true striker available to the Nerazzurri, Chivu must be extremely cautious in how he distributes the captain’s minutes and energy. The Japanese side has an advantage over Inter, as they arrived in the U.S. in the middle of their domestic season in the Land of the Rising Sun. While that advantage wasn’t particularly evident in their match against River Plate, the team led by Polish coach Maciej Skorza still has the tools to make life difficult for Inter.FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP 2025Los Angeles – Esperance 0-1 (0-0)/Belaili 70/Bayern – Boca Juniors 2-1 (1-0)/Kane 18, Olise 84 – Merentiel 66/19:00: (9.00) Mamelodi (5.80) Dortmund (1.30)22:00: (1.20) Inter Milan (6.75) Urawa RD (14.0)Sunday00:55: (1.27) Fluminense (5.60) Ulsan (12.0)04:00: (2.15) River Plate (3.35) Monterrey (3.45)19:00: (1.22) Juventus (6.25) Wydad Casablanca (14.0)22:00: (1.22) Real Madrid (6.50) Pachuca (12.0)Monday00:55: (4.10) Salzburg (3.60) Al Hilal (1.88)04:00: (1.05) Man.City (14.0) Al Ain (35.0)***odds are subject to change***
