Chivu sets 16-point target as depleted Inter, 20th in Europe, travel to Feyenoord
Cristian Chivu has set Inter a target of roughly 16 points to reach the Champions League top eight, with only 3 collected so far. Without Alessandro Bastoni and three injured players, Inter have little room left for slips, starting in Rotterdam.
Cristian Chivu has put a number on Inter’s European season. Speaking at De Kuip on Monday, the coach explained that his squad had calculated what a top-eight place in the Champions League league phase would take.
The gap is wide. Three rounds in, the club occupies 20th place and has a long way to climb. They lost their opening games against Real Madrid and Club Brugge before a 1-0 home win over Shakhtar Donetsk. Carlos Augusto settled that game with a 77th-minute goal.
Two days after Saturday’s derby defeat, Chivu faced the media in Rotterdam. It was the club’s first official word on Europe since that loss. Chivu backed his players to turn the disappointment into positive energy. His message was that Inter are still in the race. He warned that Tuesday’s Matchday 4 game at Feyenoord will not be easy, but he predicted a great performance from his team.
Bastoni’s ban and three injuries leave Inter short
Chivu must reshape his side for a game Inter badly need to win. Bastoni is suspended. Against Shakhtar, he was shown two yellow cards within three minutes and sent off.
The injury list adds to the problem. Lautaro Martínez is out with a muscle injury. Curtis Jones and John Stones are both sidelined with thigh problems. Luis Henrique is a doubt, also with a thigh issue.
There is one piece of good news in defense. Benjamin Pavard is fit again for the trip, Goal Italia reported.
Target leaves little margin against Stuttgart, Dortmund and Liverpool
The fixtures after Rotterdam do not get easier. Three of Inter’s remaining opponents sit above them in the standings. Liverpool have 9 points, Stuttgart have 7 and Borussia Dortmund have 6.
Inter visit Dortmund on December 9. They host Liverpool on January 19, 2027, and close the league phase at Slovan Bratislava on January 27, 2027.
Chivu’s figure puts the scale of the task in plain terms. After three rounds, Inter have collected only a small share of the points he believes are needed. A poor result at De Kuip would leave even less room in the games that follow. That is why the absences matter so much.
The coach has framed the trip as a chance to respond quickly to the derby. Tuesday night will show whether his depleted squad can deliver that response.
After Feyenoord, Inter’s next league-phase game is at home against Stuttgart on November 25, 2026, at 21:00 CET.
Further reading
Chivu: "Credo in questa squadra: pronti per una grande partita" (Inter)
La conferenza stampa di Chivu verso Feyenoord-Inter: "Come stanno Bonny e Pio Esposito, torna Pavard" (Goal Italia)
Inter-Shakhtar 1-0: Bastoni sent off. Carlos Augusto breaks the deadlock, Newerton has a goal disallowed (Goal)
FC Internazionale Milano Matches UEFA Champions League 2026/27 (UEFA)
