The comeback of theInter against Como in the Coppa Italia is not just a heavy result, a success that paves the way towards a trophy. It is something deeper, almost a declaration of identity. Once again, Chivu’s team has shown that even when down by two goals, even when it seems suddenly fragile, it manages to find the energy within to turn everything around. This Inter has built, game after game, a certainty: in difficulties, it does not crumble, rather it compacts. It had already demonstrated this nine days ago in Como, when it managed to come back from another heavy double disadvantage in a complicated context. It reaffirmed this in the return semifinal of the Coppa Italia, transforming an evening that risked becoming a nightmare into another display of strength. Technical and mental.
The most impressive aspect is not just the comeback itself, but the way it came about, the momentum that the Nerazzurri put into it. Down by two goals, Chivu’s players showed an awareness that goes beyond the single episode that turns the course of the match. Then there are the leaders: Marcus Thuram, Hakan Çalhanoğlu and Nicolò Barella are now the technical and emotional references of this Inter. Not only for what they produce on the field, but for the weight they carry in decisive moments. Even against Como, on the night at San Siro, it was they who sparked the team, pulling the group out of difficulties.
But this Inter does not only rely on its most representative players. The real strength lies in the depth of the squad and in everyone’s ability to feel like protagonists. In Como, it was Denzel Dumfries who proved decisive, with a performance full of bursts and concreteness. In the return match of the semifinal, however, the name and images that remain are those of Petar Sučić, author of the third goal, who made an impact at a key moment of the match. These are flashes that tell of a team where everyone is ready to make a difference: there is a group that works, that supports each other, that grows together.
The point is that, until a few months ago, the picture was completely different. Inter’s summer was marked by deep doubts. The scudetto lost at the end of last season left its mark, but above all, it was the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain that left wounds hard to heal. That 5-0 gave the impression of a team that had reached its limit, almost emptied. Not surprisingly, there was open talk of an end of an era. After Inzaghi’s departure, the club began to look around, also considering different profiles for the bench. Then the choice fell on Cristian Chivu. A decision that was initially met with skepticism. Not so much for the man’s value, but for his lack of experience in Serie A (13 matches with Parma) and the difficulty of the task: to take a wounded team and rebuild it almost from scratch, especially mentally.
Chivu, however, has worked precisely on that. He has brought back serenity, restored confidence to a group that seemed to have lost its certainties. He has built a team that may be less spectacular in an absolute sense, but stronger mentally. Today it shows: Inter no longer gets disheartened, does not lose its way, does not let itself be dragged down by negative episodes. A few days ago, Chivu himself recalled how, in the summer, many had already written off Inter. Some even went so far as to predict a mid-table finish, if not worse. Words that today sound almost surreal.
The reality is completely different. Inter is dominating the league and now also. The Coppa Italia has become a concrete objective. The chances of achieving a historic double inevitably ignite comparisons with the past. In the club’s history, in fact, Inter has only managed to win the league and cup in the same season once: in 2010, under the guidance of José Mourinho. And Christian Chivu was one of the protagonists on the field. Today, 16 years later, Chivu could achieve it as a coach. It would be a perfect, almost symbolic story. But beyond the comparisons, what strikes is the journey. This Inter was not born a winner: it became one, through work, suffering, and the ability to react.
The comeback against Como is the perfect image of all this. The Nerazzurri have learned not to be afraid. They know that even when things get complicated, there is always a way to get back into the game. They know they can count on their leaders, but also on those who come off the bench. They know that difficulty is not a limit, but a challenge. The season is not over yet, but one thing is clear: this team has built something solid, something that goes beyond the result of a single match: it has built a mentality.