Inter Milan coach Cristian Chivu has decided to start Francesco Pio Esposito and Davide Frattesi against Ajax. This evening’s Champions League Match Day 1 clash kicks off at 21:00 CEST at the Johan Cruyff Arena.
Inter travel to Amsterdam for their first Champions League outing under Cristian Chivu.
After back-to-back Serie A defeats to Juventus and Udinese, this fixture could potentially determine the 44-year-old’s fate.
Therefore, it’s unsurprising that the former Parma coach will field his strongest Inter Milan starting line-up tonight.
However, Chivu has more than one injury concern, with Lautaro Martinez struggling with a back problem.
With El Toro at risk of staying on the bench, the Nerazzurri boss has a decision to make.
Ajax Vs Inter Milan – Pio Esposito Set For Champions League Debut
Firstly, the big team news ahead of the match is that Francesco Pio Esposito will make his Champions League debut.
Back at Inter after a phenomenal breakout season at Spezia, the 20-year-old is hoping to shine on the grandest stage.
Indeed, the teenage striker was outstanding in Serie B last term, convincing Chivu to keep him in the squad this season.
Unfortunately, the Italian center-forward has barely featured in the opening three Serie A rounds. A yellow-card suspension prevented him from taking part in Inter’s 5-0 rout of Torino on day one.
Then, he made a late cameo appearance against Udinese. Finally, he was an unused substitute against Juventus last weekend.
With Lautaro desperately needing rest, tonight will be Esposito’s chance to demonstrate his well-documented potential.
Cristian Chivu Puts Faith in Nicolo Barella & Henrikh Mkhitaryan
Another couple of pre-match question marks surrounded the midfield and the left-hand side.
Despite faring poorly against Juventus, Henrikh Mkhitaryan will keep his place. This means Petar Sucic starts on the bench.
Furthermore, Nicolo Barella starts despite a dismal performance against Juventus. Therefore, Davide Frattesi is benched.
Meanwhile, on the left-hand side, Federico Dimarco takes Carlos Augusto’s place. Then, therefore Brazilian is benched. Alessandro Bastoni gets the nod in the starting XI.
In addition to Augusto, Francesco Acerbi is out, with Stefan de Vrij replacing him at the heart of Inter’s backline.
Official Starting Lineups – Ajax vs Inter Milan: Pio Esposito Starts
AJAX (4-3-3): Jaros; Gaai, Itakura, Baas, Wijndal; Regeer, Klaassen (C), Taylor; Edvardsen, Weghorst, Godts.
Bench: Heerkens, Pasveer, Sutalo, Rosa, Mokio, Fritz-Jim, McConnell, Gloukh, Moro, Dolberg.
Coach: Heitinga.
Suspended: none.
Unavailable: Berghuis, Van den Boomen.
INTER (3-5-2): Sommer; Akanji, De Vrij, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella (C), Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Thuram, Esposito.
Bench: Martinez, Di Gennaro, Acerbi, Bisseck, Carlos Augusto, Palacios, Luis Henrique, Frattesi, Zielinski, Sucic, Diouf, Bonny, Lautaro.
Coach: Chivu.
Suspended: none.
Unavailable: Darmian.
Referee: Oliver.
Assistants: Burt and Mainwaring.
Fourth official: Barrot.
Var: Gillet.
Avar: Salisbury.
Pio did very well overall.He deserve to start more matches
Inter wins, nobody comments. Inter loses, everybody is bitching for days to come. That is very telling.
Because we are supposed to win, we have the second most scudettos in all of Italy, been in multiple European finals. We expect to win games.
Oh, okay. So if Inter wins, you don’t even highlight the positives. Got it.
i am one of those guys who like winning more than playing beautiful football, but i can give crticism, inter now often make mistakes in build up play, most of team has figured it out once sommer has the ball when he cant make a short pass because of enemy pressing he always pass to the striker who goes down to help, n it easily breakdown the formation if the enemy manage to steal the ball from the striker.
inter cant still control the tempo, once they are up they dont try to play the ball inside their own n play counter attacking, instead they want to get the second goal in hurry. we know they dont have midfielders that can play the ball with the defenders, as result it drains their energy quickly.
bastoni is the only reliable left defender, if he gets injured like 2 or three months, then its a bye bye.
I hope man city teach napoli a lesson tomorrow and beat them 5-0 so cu.nte’s ego can be crushed as he so deserved
Why does Conte deserve that? Because he changed the mentality of the team and gave us the first scudetto in 10 years and laid the foundation for what could be a great team?
Some people here think that players are like supporters. They forget that players and coaches get paid millions of dollars to do what they do. These are professionals, not supporters blinded by their loyalty to a single club.
I’m arguing with you separate from Davide, but Conte deserves that because he narrowly beat us last season while our team was tackling several competitions. Now that he is in more than one, I hope he goes far enough that he needs to stretch his team a little but I still want him to show how much of a pu$$y he is in the CL. Like he did with us, before us and after us.
Many positives today. De Vrij giving more confidence next to Akanji and Bastoni, still they need to be much more better. Sommer rectifying his mistakes. Pio trying a lot, Calha still great in set pieces but need to step up his DM skills and passing. Barella without much effort, we need him as a box to box. Chivu need to learn more about balancing between attack, transition phase and defence. When we attack with too many players we become vulnerable at the back, also defensive line today much better then against jubentus. Much higher defensive line in an away game is suicide, today it was more balanced and the low block more compact. I see some progress and potential in Chivu. Forza Inter! We still need to involve more our new signings rather then keep the old guys till 85 minute, makes no sense, chamge players at 60, 70 and 80 minute not only one till 79 minute, when 70% of the squad is already dead tired.
psg 4- Atalanta 0 I guess Italian football is dead.
Liverpool 3 A. Madrid 2, They almost drew. Let’s wish Ac milan a very bad luck.
Solid performance…. Pio was excellent, but still would have liked to have seen us try something different, and use more of the new signings… baby steps I guess… Forza Inter!!
3 welcome points.. but the lack of an identity is glaring. I hope chivu can build something here. it is clear we are playing some hopeful football. Inzaghi seemed to have a system. we could see what the players are doing. today and most of the season so far, there has been no clear game plan. hopefully these are teething problems, and we can iron that out. nice to see pio play 90min. want to see more of the the diouf guy.
bravo Chivu. great strategy. Forza Inter!
Good win with clean sheet. Forza Inter.
Important win let’s build from this and continue. Forzaaa
Zielinski… The invisible guy… You can’t even see him on the replays ffs 😀
But ao proud of Pio, bro plays very good
Sommer’s height is a real issue. lol
Chivu has been listening to you; he is making substations
what’s wrong with the referee?!
why didn’t try henrique instead of carlos
Carlos for defense, Henrique for offense
Bayern is destroying Chelsea LOL
Barella MOM
Zielinski ahead of Sucic.
Denzel Gotta make a better pass than that my god, You had all day.
C’mon Chivu, Dumfries, Di Marco, Barella, Calhanoglu obviously tired, refresh midfield
Lets go Fratessi!!!! Prove your worth. This is your shot.
I dont think we need to rush Lautaro round back. Pio’s control is great as well as his first touch, he can hold off his man and turn, (plays like Luca Toni) if he had pace he’d be amazing. We just need to give him some game time whilst Lautaro recovers fully. He will be great with either Bonny or Thuram or even both.
Chivus gotta make a sub GIVE LUIS HENQUIRE TIME also fratessi and diouf
I love pio, So young and making mature decisions every time.
Yall are so negative on here man. Where is the love. Never seen love on here for like more than one or two comments.
2-0
Forza inter!!!!
Yes more love is needed
Am i the only one who thinks we are actually now a full-attacking squad but very risky in the back and with our defence? I mean if Sommer didnt saved that kick now we would maybe be in loss. Same thing happened already with Fluminense, Udinese, Juventus. They wait for us to attack too deep just to destroy us on a counter or half-counter. Chivu should know that till now. Every other team soon will give away possesion tu us just to destroy us on the counter.
De Vrij looks better than Acerbi, Akanji is subpar, Bastoni lousy game, Dimarco looks solid, one-trick pony Dumfries subpar.
No def is our main weakness.
Hakan is only good for set pieces and a couple of shots from distance, defensive play terrible, before he knew how to give long balls, now maybe 1/5 correct balls forward. Barrela worker bee as always, Mhiki is spent, his role is to enter around 70th minute to close the game, save score, nothing more.
You all still want Thuram out? What does this guy need to do? Shoot a Juventino or what?
That would help….At the end of the day, his brother plays for Juve, his Dad played for Juve, he doesn’t celebrate scoring against Juve, he’s not signed a new contract…. think the outcome is pretty inevitable… just get on with it….
He was the same last season, good start then finish with under 20 goals. That’s not good for a striker, he is more of a winger than a classic 9. Always with move more, dribble when needed to shoot, so as a winger good quality, not so much for a number 9
Plus we need money to buy 10+ players next summer.
What are you on? All the old guys will be gone and only one of them is a starter with no replacement (De Vrij is Acerbi’s sub and both will be gone). Inter will need a solid midfielder and 2-3 defenders for next season.
You can’t play 50+ games without quality reserves, plus we need change even in starting 11.
1.Sommer
2.Martinez-not a gk for us, mid-table team player
3.Pavard/Akanji- first one leaving probably, second already 30, subpar in these 2 games
4.Bisseck
5.Darmian
6.de Vrij
7.Acerbi
8.Hakan
9.Zielinski
10.Mkhitaryan
11.Dumfries-we need change for him, already requested release clause
12.Frattesi-if he doesn’t get minutes this season, 100% is requesting transfer
13.Thuram-last chance to get big money for him
And maybe even arrivals from summer if they don’t show much this season-Diouf, Luis and Bonny.
Why are Hakan, Zielinski, Dumfries, Thuram, Fratessi and Bisseck on this list? Their contract isn’t running out. Most if this guys can still contribute a whole lot to the team. The only doubtful (in terms of contributions) is Bisseck.
This isn’t Football Manager or EAFC.
Are we watching same games? Bisseck is only good now to get 30 mil for him, Zielinski useless, always injured, terrible defensive play. Hakan 0 participation in game except set pieces. As i’ve said Frattesi if doesn’t get minutes will request transfer, that’s a fact, he already almost left once.
#ThuramOUT…. damnnnn. LOL
Am I the only one who remembers Thuram’s backheel to Lautaro against Bayern, him winning the ball that lead to Inter tying the game against Barcelona, and then Thuram putting Araujo on skates before Fratessi scoring the winning goal against Barca?
Seems like you guys have a pretty short memory.
Am I the only one who’s sick of his can’t be arsed attitude? Laughing against Juve is unforgivable!! It’s as simple as that!! I also remember someone being on 13 serie A goals at Christmas, and finishing the season with 14….
From what I read (don’t know if its true or not) he was asking his brother “you did it, didn’t you” (referring to his foul against Bonny before the goal. If this is the case, then I don’t see too much of a problem. Also, Thuram still scored more than Lautaro last season.
You were scapegoating Thuram way before the Juve game, while you defended Dimarco who was dreadful last season.
Dimarco was dreadful toward the end of season, after the injury, but so were the rest of players. In first half of season was top 3 in team.
He rarely plays 100%, not a killer striker, on occasion brilliant, very rarely helps out in defensive play. Instead of getting 70 mil for him, you would rather wait that his contract expires or to sell him under 30 mil with expiring contract, when we need overhaul of squad.
The difference is that DiMarcos loyalty and respect for Inter is never in question…
Other than the Juve incident, what has Thuram ever done to put his loyalty into question?
Hahahaha all we do is complain on here. Can we show love ever and stop taking things so seriously.
2-0.
Forza inter!!!!!!!!!
We need to cross the ball more. Thuram is trying to prove a point this season.
Thuram on a yellow is not that great because one wrong tackle and he’s gone and the result is at risk. It’s a must win match as well so I wonder how Chivu will deal with the issue so far it’s Inzaghi 2.0 but to be safe he should not stick with Thuram for too long as the more he’s tired the more risky it gets in getting a second card
Wait another goal. Lol Thuram is becoming unstoppable in corners Lol
until this day i didnt see inter scores from a tactical attack. its either a shot from away or a corner kick
There is not enough protection in front we really should have bought a dm. The one thing I’ve noticed is Pio’s movement is good. He lacks pace but he’s constantly on the move and dragging the cb’s with him which leaves space for whoever. We just need another player gambling. I like this speed of play though at least we’re not just passing sideways and back.
Esposito could do a lot of good things together with Frattesi. Pio with his big body and movement could open space for Frattesi’s trademark goals.
I actually agree. I’m not a Frattesi fan but I agree in this game he really could do some damage. We need someone who can smell the goal and Frattesi has a great knack of being in the right place.
Frattesi needs to come on. He can score against such teams and put us at a more comfortable position.
We need to win this game to have a good start in ucl (last 4 games are brutal) and to shake off two straight losses, plus Ajax is not the team they used to be and have klassen not only starting but as a captain and he was not good with us.
Disappointing that chivu sticks with 3-5-2 and not changing since most teams know how we play.
I’m convinced Marotta got Conte to win serie a (we spent a lot of money to get Hakimi and lukaku) then we became cheap and went for mostly free agents and got Inzaghi to stick with 3-5-2 (would cost too much to change tactics and get different players) and now we got chivu who also plays 3-5-2. How many teams plays that tactic and how many have won in Europe with it?
TBH I dont think it is fully on Chivu. If he changes too much, then the current players will be sure have some resistance because they consider the 352 by Inzaghi was successful. If he doesnt change, then the players will always consider that is the legacy from Inzaghi. So either way, Chivu is not doing an easy job. The only solution is fresh blood to replace some of current players, or most of current players.
100% agree.
Thuram played 45 mins but looks like he played 90mins already. I dont know what is going on with him, if he is not recovered from injury, why not rotate him by bonny?
Our defense is so easy to go through. This was obvious even vs Torino. Not sure why, but Chivu really needs to fix it.
Lol lile has choices to do so… Management fcked with Chivu and supporters by not signimg any defender in summer
Yes but still I did not expect our defense to be so shaky. It seems to me that the problem start with the midfield.
so, so true. Finally someone that understands the game
Yep in Chivu minds Mikhi is a fast defensive midfield player. The position screams Bisseck as he’s actually decent in aggressive tackling and can control the ball well. I see no other player that can play in that role so far. There’s literarily a hole in midfield that smart teams can utilise and hurt Inter at will. Just put someone defensive with positional awareness and build from there
never doubted Sommer! like never ever!!! lol
why inter defening is pooor when they are the same players Inzaghi had other than the Barca match?
Inter defending was bad also in UCL final with Inzaghi…so, so bad
Why the fuck do you always write Inter with a small letter while other teams’ names start with a capital letter?”
Etc etc etc can’t believe you noticed that
Our defense was not good last season either. Thats the reason we lost the scudetto and ucl. We outscored barca and Bayern. We couldnt stop a nose bleed to end the season.
I have the impression that this season our defense is considerably worse than last season.
rubentus defence is worse than inter but they managed to beat inter. rubentus are the luckiest club ever yesterday they almost won the match when you were 3 goals down. They are so fresh and fast.
1-0 inter but let’s hope it won’t be another rubentus results
And this season we will be fighting for relegation in Serie A. We know
never doubted Sommer! just never! lol
Sommer and Thuram…deamons and angels. 1-0 for us
It was a great save that immediately triggered a reaction. Great goal despite the reversed penalty
And some people want Thuram gone…
Only cuz his attitude but that can be changed
Still do….
Yeah…gone in the summer and on the bench for 5 – 10 games
Thuram Head game crazy this season….Pause
GOAALLLLLL
What a save by Sommer…….. Fck our defense looks sht……………
Whoever made that terrible pass to Dimarco is to blame for that situation, not defense.
dude. that was a tackle not a pass. If you cant even tell the difference between those, then you win.
If it was a tackle, then my bad. No need to get so worked up about a play that ended up in nothing.
Good save sommer!
So every single shirt pull is gonna be pulled up by VAR now is it?!?
Corruption on clear view
That complete bullshit, clear corruption.
Tell me one time that a striker is not fcking pulling jersey with defenders. Are they gonna call it every single time now??????? Looking forward to it.
Besides everything, Pio is really great 🙂
we are fucked, refs are looking to eff us, i have never seen that before.
Thuram is not linking up well with pio glad they’re talking it out. clear pen
Wtf nevermind holy dive
Serie a teams cannot play football…
So edgy
Pen
My whole family supports inter amd they asleep rn
This system isn’t fit for purpose
Should have bought lookman and played as a CAM there’s no link
At least stick frattesi on
This is just dreadful
Struggling with a team starting Davy klassen. We’re sad.
the team is already looking tired. as if they just play a 90 mins match yesterday.
we are visibly degrading.
refereeing is not on our side.
we have whiners in the middle of the park.
this is not the Inter that we were expecting given the transfer directions. what is the fking use of signing youth players and let them be benchwarmers?
Dimarco is mentally ill, He’s still turning away on crosses.
F**king Thuram already – back heels to nobody giving the ball away
FML !!!!
In some ways, the line up was more important than the result for me tonight… Aside from Pio, really disappointing…. I’ve been fully behind Chivu, but if he’s nit going to change things, then I don’t see the point… he was supposed to be the young coach with fresh ideas, and a man who knew our youth players…. Sommer still in goal, Thuram allowed to get away with his giggle fits as Juve score their winner… these are not good signs of leadership! No Frattesi or Sucic, never mind Diouf or Henrique, or perish the thought, a change of formation…. Really struggling to even be arsed watching the game, and I haven’t missed a single match in over 30 years….
Inglese I’m feeling this. Hopefully we can make this look easy. But Chivu’s motto is courage and he hasn’t shown much in terms of starting line ups and subs so far.
Yeah, not even angry… just really disappointed, which is probably worse- can’t gear myself up for the game at all….
Ooh… Going through the comments today… It’s quite laughable, but at least people are beginning to see the obvious….
Chivu is ragebaiting
Chivu is just trolling us at this point the guy is just copy and paste Inzaghi
If he was a copy of Inzaghi, Inter would be winning the games…
This game is very important for us to get a good start since our first 4 games are much much easier than last 4 so we need as many points as possible.
Chivu made 2 subs from the horrible juve defeat, pio in to rest lauti and de vrij for grandpa acerbi. We needed more changes but it shows chivu is playing it safe to keep his job a while longer. A win is important coming from two straight defeats and 6 goals conceded, a draw is not end of the world but a loss would be devastating.
Management made horrible decisions this summer that I can’t forget and many of our targets stayed or left for other clubs (lookman, Leoni, de winter, Kone) we spent 85M on average players, all were on the bench against jube, we got weaker this season somehow ??? and all I expect us is to come 4th place, Napoli, Juve and even Milan (no euro games) are better than us this season sadly.
You’re being a little over dramatic if you ask me.
Oh yeah Sucic and Frattesi are benched again so the oldies run out of that little energy they have left.
What happened to Sucic? He is too young to be needing a break…….
Exactly
Just give sucks game time, we can’t rely on a 38 year old anymore. absolutely ridiculous
This doesn’t match the lineup I’m seeing –
Both have Pio though so a nice hat trick from him and we might all get lower blood pressures.
Hahahaha, I’ve high blood pressure. So, it’s good for me.