Inter Milan are setting their sights on a fresh start as they prepare to open their FIFA Club World Cup campaign against Monterrey at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. New head coach Cristian Chivu, appointed last week following Simone Inzaghi’s departure, insists the team is focused on moving forward after a difficult end to their 2024–25 season.
The Italian side arrives in California still reeling from a humbling 5-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League final — the heaviest in the competition’s history. That loss was compounded by a narrow miss in the Serie A title race, where Inter fell just one point short of champions Napoli.
Yet Chivu, speaking in his first major press conference as Inter manager, emphasized a clean slate for the Club World Cup.
“We cannot do anything about the past. You can’t change it,” Chivu said. “This is the end of the 2024–2025 season, and it’s a competition that we need to honour. A team like Inter must be the best version of itself.”
He stressed that there would be no excuses for poor form, mentally or physically: “We’re ready. We’ve worked hard these past few days to build a united team and find the calm and focus we need to perform.”
Inter’s Group E also includes Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds and Argentina’s River Plate, making progression anything but guaranteed. Their first opponents, Monterrey, will be led by veteran defender Sergio Ramos, who joined the Mexican club earlier this year after a long European career.
“We have a lot of respect for Inter,” Ramos stated. “They have bigger names, they’re clear favourites — but for us, this is a huge opportunity. We’ll fight toe-to-toe against every opponent.”
With pressure mounting and a new era beginning, all eyes will be on how Chivu’s Inter side respond to adversity on the world stage.
