Cristian Chivu says Inter are the side everyone will be aiming to beat when the 2026-27 Serie A season begins, but insists the champions still have room to improve after winning last season’s title.
Inter finished 11 points clear of Napoli in Chivu’s first campaign in charge in 2025-26. Napoli had started that season as defending champions under Antonio Conte.
The Nerazzurri begin their title defence against Serie B play-off winners Monza on Saturday, with the Opta supercomputer giving them a league-leading 35.1% chance of retaining the Scudetto.
Inter have undergone changes during the summer. Denzel Dumfries has moved to Real Madrid, while experienced defenders Matteo Darmian, Stefan de Vrij and Francesco Acerbi have also left the club.
They have strengthened in several areas, however, with Djed Spence, John Stones, Aleksandar Stankovic and Ivan Provedel arriving. Manuel Akanji’s loan move from Manchester City has also been made permanent.
“We are aware that we are always the team to beat and no one will give us anything,” Chivu said on Friday. “We often talk about ambitions, and everyone starts from scratch.
“I am interested in our growth, without being satisfied with what we have done. We have room for improvement.”
Chivu expects Martinez to stay
Chivu also expressed confidence that captain Lautaro Martinez will remain at Inter, despite renewed reports linking the Argentina international with a move to Barcelona.
Martinez was Serie A’s leading scorer last season with 17 goals. He is available for Saturday’s match, although his pre-season has been shortened following the World Cup.
Asked about the forward, Chivu said: “I fear nothing, and I’m here to talk about Monza.
“Lautaro is our captain, and there will still be a lot of talk about him. I hold him close, and I think he will stay with us for a long time.
“The market is always like this, news comes out… It’s nice to talk about certain players because it means that they are recognised as great. Tomorrow, we’ll see how he is.”
The Inter manager was also asked how Spence might differ from Dumfries in the team’s defence.
“I find it unfair to make comparisons; I can say that I am pleased he has room for improvement,” Chivu said.
“[Spence] has been part of a competitive group for years and that wants to do so in the future as well.”
Monza finished third in Serie B last season. They drew 2-2 on aggregate with Catanzaro in the promotion play-offs, but advanced because of their higher league position.
Players to watch
For Inter, Martinez is one goal away from reaching 133 Serie A goals for the club and matching Stefano Nyers as the competition’s third-highest scorer in Inter history. Giuseppe Meazza leads the list with 197, followed by Benito Lorenzi on 138.
Martinez has scored five goals in six league appearances against Monza, including two braces. He also scored six times in six matches against teams promoted to Serie A last season.
Monza will look to Patrick Cutrone, who contributed to nine goals in Serie B last term, scoring six and providing three assists, including the play-offs.
Of all players who contributed to at least nine goals in Italy’s second tier, Cutrone played the fewest matches, featuring in 20 games.
Inter strong favourites in Lombardy derby
Saturday’s game will be the third Lombardy derby played on the opening matchday in the past four Serie A seasons. The previous examples were this fixture in 2023-24 and Milan against Cremonese last season.
There have now been as many opening-day matches between Lombardy clubs in the past four seasons as there were across the previous 29 campaigns, dating back to the introduction of three points for a win. Those earlier fixtures were Inter against Brescia in 1997-98, Brescia against Milan in 2001-02 and Inter against Atalanta in 2015-16.
Since 1929-30, reigning Serie A champions have lost only one of their 18 opening matches as title holders, including seasons in which titles were awarded rather than won on the pitch. Their record in those games is 10 wins, seven draws and one defeat, with that loss coming in a 1-0 defeat by Venezia in 1940.
Monza have never won their first Serie A match of a season. They have drawn once and lost twice, including a 2-0 defeat by Inter in this same fixture in 2023-24.
Across Serie A history since 1929-30, champions have lost their opening match against a newly promoted side only once in 23 meetings. The champions’ record in those matches is 15 wins, seven draws and one defeat.
Opta consequently rates Inter as clear favourites, giving them a 74.9% chance of victory. Monza are given a 9.7% chance of winning, while the probability of a draw is 15.4%.
