Inter return to San Siro on Wednesday evening for their Coppa Italia round of 16 clash against Venezia, with Cristian Chivu ready to make significant changes to his starting eleven. The Nerazzurri are coming off an important win away to Pisa and, with a demanding run of fixtures ahead, the Romanian coach appears set to rely on depth and fresh legs.
Inter resumed training immediately after the victory in Tuscany against Pisa, with the focus shifting quickly to a cup tie. The expectation is that Chivu will implement broad rotation, rewarding several squad players who have made an impact in recent appearances and giving minutes to those who have featured less frequently this season.
Pio Esposito is among the candidates for a starting role after his decisive contribution at Pisa, where he replaced an off-colour Marcus Thuram and helped turn the game in Inter’s favour. Piotr Zielinski is also pushing for inclusion; the Polish midfielder has scored in each of his last two matches as well as with the national team against Malta, and looks to be playing with renewed confidence.
One of the most intriguing stories of recent weeks is Andy Diouf’s adaptation to an entirely new role. Signed as a box-to-box midfielder known for his dribbling and explosive runs, Diouf has impressed as a right wing back in consecutive cameos against Milan and Pisa. His energetic performances, combined with the struggles of Luis Henrique and injuries to Denzel Dumfries and Matteo Darmian, have suddenly made him a strong option on the flank. Dumfries, meanwhile, is expected to return between the matches against Como and Liverpool.
Another notable return is expected in the goal. Josep Martinez is set to make his first appearance in roughly a month, after the tragic car accident in which an 81-year-old man lost his life. Inter have handled the situation with sensitivity and patience, but the Spanish goalkeeper has now rejoined full training and is ready to compete again.
Inter’s injury list, however, remains unchanged. Ange Yoan Bonny, who missed the trip to Pisa due to illness, did not train with the group at Appiano Gentile and is unlikely to feature. In midfield, Henrikh Mkhitaryan could make his return. The Armenian veteran was sidelined following the controversial incident with Giovanni Di Lorenzo in Naples that led to a penalty for the Azzurri, but he has been back in full training for several days and may start to regain match rhythm.
Chivu is preparing for a demanding stretch of fixtures. After Venezia, Inter face Como, Liverpool and Genoa within approximately 10 days, a sequence that will test the squad’s physical and mental endurance. With such a schedule looming, Wednesday’s match offers both an opportunity to rotate and a risk of complacency, especially against a Venezia side eager to cause an upset at San Siro.
The Nerazzurri remain firm favourites to advance, but the Coppa Italia has a history of unexpected twists. As Chivu seeks a balance between competitiveness and preservation of energy, players on the fringes will have the chance to make their case. Inter will need focus and stability to avoid any surprises and move one step closer to defending their position among Italy’s cup contenders.
