Inter have treated the extended international break as a calculated pause rather than a reward, with Cristian Chivu giving the players who remain at the club a week away from Appiano Gentile before work resumes next Monday.
A managed break before a demanding run
Chivu will also spend several days abroad with his family, while the non-international members of the squad have been released from daily training. The decision comes during an unusual three-week interruption to the season, a situation that has required coaches and fitness departments across the league to revise their normal preparation plans.
The break does not mean a complete stop. Every available player has been given an individual programme to maintain physical condition ahead of the next, particularly busy, sequence of fixtures.
- Spence has been assigned a tailored workload during the period away from the training ground.
- Hakan Calhanoglu and Stones, both recovering from injury, will follow separate rehabilitation schedules.
- The aim is for Calhanoglu and Stones to be ready for Parma’s visit on Saturday 10 October.
- Inter’s medical staff are encouraged by their progress, although a final assessment will depend on how they respond once training intensity increases.
Chivu waits for the full group
Tactical work will be held back until the closing days of the break. Chivu is waiting for the international contingent to return before conducting the more detailed sessions needed for Parma and the fixtures that follow.
Thirteen Inter players are away with their national teams, leaving the coach to manage a reduced group at first before bringing the squad back together at Appiano Gentile.
Inter players on international duty
- Italy: Nicolò Barella, Alessandro Bastoni, Federico Dimarco and Esposito.
- Argentina: Lautaro Martinez.
- Ivory Coast: Bonny.
- Croatia: Sucic.
- France: Diouf.
- Germany: Bisseck.
- Poland: Zielinski.
- Serbia: Stankovic.
- Spain: Martinez.
- Switzerland: Akanji.
The return to training next Monday will begin the final approach to Parma, with Chivu’s principal task being to restore rhythm to those who stayed behind while quickly reconnecting the internationals after their respective commitments.
