Aleksandar Kolarov believes Cristian Chivu has acquired Inter transferring in the correct path forward of his first return to former membership Parma on Wednesday.
Chivu joined the Nerazzurri from Parma again in June and has since guided Inter to the highest of the Serie A desk, with their newest victory seeing them down Bologna on residence soil.
Piotr Zielinski, Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram have been all on track Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in what was big end result, after seeing title rivals AC Milan and Napoli additionally win.
Inter are the sturdy favourites to elevate the Scudetto in 2025-26, profitable 59.6% of the Opta supercomputer’s season simulations, with defending champions Napoli second (21.8%).
Chivu’s arrival on the membership was due to his profitable mentality as a participant, with Inter having narrowly missed out on a number of main honours throughout final season.
They completed as runners-up within the Supercoppa Italiana and the Champions League, whereas additionally being dumped out of the Coppa Italia semi-finals and ending second in Serie A.
“We didn’t need to remodel Inter, however relatively add issues. The staff got here so near profitable many trophies final season and sadly simply missed out,” Kolarov stated.
“We pressed a couple of buttons and labored on the coaching area, I believe the squad goes in the correct path.
“As soon as the second half of the season begins, it’s a really totally different state of affairs, so we’re prime of the desk and need to keep there. It will take a number of onerous work.”
Kolarov was on media duties after their win over Bologna final weekend as a result of Chivu had misplaced his voice in the course of the encounter, regardless of his aspect operating out comfy winners.
Former boss Simone Inzaghi famously missed a number of post-match interviews as a result of he misplaced his voice by shouting on the touchline.
And Kolarov conceded that his post-match tasks could possibly be heightened because the season progresses.
“Chivu appears very calm, however he’s actually not! I believe Cristian may even shout extra,” confessed Kolarov.
“Having stated that, I used to be not as shut on the bench with Inzaghi as I used to be with Chivu, so it’d simply be the gap.”
Parma discover themselves down in 14th within the standings, however have misplaced simply one in all their final 4 league matches (W2 D1) and can be hoping to trigger an upset right here.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Parma – Mateo Pellegrino
Following an help towards Fiorentina and a aim towards Sassuolo, Mateo Pellegrino might grow to be the primary participant to be concerned in not less than one aim in three consecutive Serie A matches for Parma since Dejan Kulusevski did so in July 2020 (towards Napoli, Brescia and Atalanta).
The final Argentinian participant to realize this feat was Hernan Crespo, between November and December 2010 (towards Lazio, Inter and Udinese).
Inter – Lautaro Martinez
Lautaro Martinez has scored in 5 consecutive Serie A appearances for Inter for the primary time since between December 2023 and January 2024.
The final Nerazzurri participant to attain in six successive Serie A matches was Julio Cruz, who managed to take action between October and December 2007 (seven objectives in that run).
7 – Solo Alessandro Altobelli (otto), Giuseppe Meazza e Benito Lorenzi (nove entrambi) contano più campionati diversi con almeno 10 gol all’attivo nella storia dell’#Inter rispetto a #LautaroMartínez (sette – 10 gol nella #SerieA in corso). Implacabile. pic.twitter.com/KLWXB4k399
— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) January 4, 2026
MATCH PREDICTION: INTER WIN
Inter are unbeaten of their final seven Serie A matches towards Parma (W4 D3) however have by no means gone eight consecutive league video games with out defeat towards them. Parma’s final top-flight victory towards the Nerazzurri dates again to fifteen September 2018.
However after their 2-2 draw of their most up-to-date encounter on 5 April, Parma and Inter might draw two Serie A matches in a row for the primary time since between September 2004 and February 2005 (when each video games additionally ended 2-2).
However Chivu’s aspect arrive at Stadio Ennio Tardini with confidence. They’ve gained six of their eight away video games in Serie A this season (L2) and will safe not less than seven wins of their first 9 away league matches of a marketing campaign for the fifth time of their historical past.
Parma might, nonetheless, go three video games unbeaten in Serie A for the primary time underneath Carlos Cuesta. The final time they registered an extended unbeaten run within the top-flight was between March and April, underneath now Inter boss Chivu (W1 D6).
And following their final residence win (1-0 vs Fiorentina), Parma might additionally safe back-to-back residence victories in Serie A for the primary time since January 2020, after they defeated Lecce and Udinese underneath Roberto D’Aversa.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Parma – 14.5%
Draw – 19.5%
Inter – 65.9%
