A Career Built on Details
MILAN — Inter Milan could seal Serie A before even kicking a ball against Parma on Sunday. Cristian Chivu's side holds a 10-point lead over second-placed Napoli and 12 over AC Milan, with four rounds left. A home win at San Siro guarantees the title.
A draw might suffice, depending on results elsewhere. But Inter would also clinch if Napoli loses to Champions League-chasing Como on Saturday and Milan fails to beat Sassuolo hours before Inter kicks off.
The trophy did not need much decoration; the season had already done most of the talking.
It would be a first managerial trophy for Chivu, whose only previous senior coaching stint was 13 matches in charge of Parma at the end of last season. "I know what players go through, how they experience these situations and what it means to play for Inter," said Chivu, part of Inter's treble-winning team in 2010. "You have to embrace them, always tell the truth and remain consistent."
The Record He Leaves
The Nerazzurri have posted 25 wins and 80 league goals this campaign — more than 100 across all competitions. That kind of season doesn't need much decoration; it already does the talking.
Inter could add the Italian Cup on May 13, facing Lazio in the final. Behind them, the fight for the remaining three Champions League places is tight. Fourth-placed Juventus sits just three points above Como and Roma.
Juve hosts relegation-threatened Hellas Verona on Sunday; Roma welcomes Fiorentina on Monday. At the bottom, Pisa faces mathematical relegation if it fails to beat Lecce. Cremonese, one point behind Lecce, hosts Lazio on Monday. Verona is 10 points adrift.
The Part People Remember
Inter midfielder Federico Dimarco broke the Serie A single-season assist record, setting up both goals in a 2-2 draw at Torino — giving him 18 this campaign. Teammate Lautaro Martínez returns from a calf issue that kept him out of eight of the last nine league matches.
Milan midfielder Luka Modric will miss the final four rounds after breaking his cheekbone against Juventus last weekend. The Croatia captain underwent surgery on Monday.
Italian soccer is also dealing with a refereeing controversy. Gianluca Rocchi, head of referees in Serie A and Serie B, is under criminal investigation for alleged sports fraud. VAR supervisor Andrea Gervasoni was also in court in Milan on Thursday. No players or club directors have been implicated.