Inter Milan will kick off their FIFA Club World Cup campaign this Tuesday at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. Fresh off the disappointment of a UEFA Champions League final loss, the Italians face Mexico’s Monterrey in Group E, with new boss Cristian Chivu at the helm for his debut match.
The Romanian legend, who starred for Inter during his playing days, stepped in after Simone Inzaghi departed for Al-Hilal. Inter’s 2022–23 season ended in heartbreak—a 5-0 defeat to PSG in the Champions League final, a one-point miss in the Serie A title race, and a Copa Italia semifinal exit.
In its inaugural 32-team format, the Club World Cup has thrown together heavyweights like River Plate and J1 League champions Urawa Red Diamonds in the same group. Inter defender Stefan de Vrij knows there are bigger battles ahead but insists the focus is on getting off to a strong start.
"It’s a big match. The first game in a tournament like this is always very important to start well. It’s a tough opponent with a very good team, very technical, a lot of quality players that we also know," said de Vrij. "We’ve been preparing very well and we have a lot of confidence that we can do a great game and a good result."
Fans worldwide will tune in to see how Chivu’s tactical blueprint unfolds and whether Inter can convert last season’s near-misses into motivation.
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Inter Milan prepare for Club World Cup opener against Monterrey
cgtn.com
