How the World Changes in a Year: Chivu and Diouf on Inter's Garden of Change

Twelve months can completely turn around a situation many had already written off, without sensing the possibility of gradual change. These twelve months were enough to prove, first to themselves and then to the outside world, that the trust placed in them was well-founded, not just a matter of chance.

The period in question spans from October 2025 to October 2026. Those who managed to 'turn around reality' are Inter's coach Cristian Chivu and player Andy Diouf. For different reasons, after being chosen by the Milanese club for their respective roles—Chivu as coach, Diouf as a midfielder—both faced a start fraught with the risk of failure.

The Seed of Change

In Chivu's case, two losses in the first three Serie A matches of the 2025-2026 season—against Udinese at home and Juventus away—caused some industry insiders and Inter fans to fear that the club's strategy to mentally reset the players after the previous season's disappointing end was flawed. However, the coach proved the club's choice was wise through his team's performance and results. His two main contributions were key to Inter's success by the end of the season, securing a domestic double (their twenty-first Scudetto and tenth Coppa Italia): he implemented his ideas without radically altering the tactical framework inherited from his predecessor, Simone Inzaghi, and he meticulously worked on the players' mentality, restoring their confidence in their own considerable footballing ability.

For Diouf, the French player born in 2003, the previous season began with the aim of being one of Chivu's midfield options. After a few performances that didn't meet his coach's expectations regarding his on-field contribution, the decision was made to plant the seed of change. Shifting from midfield to right-wing, a position where the former Lens player could leverage his agility and physicality to offer different solutions on the flanks, allowed him to discover a new identity at Inter. This experiment blossomed into a 'garden of change', cultivated on specific foundations: the player's technical and physical qualities, coupled with a mental commitment that drove him to give his best in training, even when initially uncertain about moving to the right wing.

The Present

Thanks to the groundwork laid last season and in the early stages of the current one, Chivu and Diouf are no longer seen as enigmas by a significant portion of Inter fans and industry observers. The need to 'prove themselves' has now shifted to the imperative to 'confirm'. The current situation is clear: the high expectations, fueled by the domestic double Chivu architected and Diouf's call-up to the French national team, are being met by the consistent pursuit of individual and collective success.