Inter head into the international break in strong form, sitting joint-top of Serie A alongside Roma with 12 points from four games. The latest evidence came on Monday night at San Siro, where Chivu's side recovered from 2-0 down to beat Udinese 5-3, with Carlos Augusto, Barella, Thuram and Esposito among the scorers. It was the third time this season Inter had fallen behind in a match and fought back to win, pointing to a resilience that defines this squad's early-season character.

The result came with complications, though. Hakan Calhanoglu was absent from the matchday squad entirely, and subsequent tests confirmed a muscular injury to his right adductor. He will miss the trip to Rome on 19 September, forcing Chivu to reorganise his midfield for the toughest away fixture of the season so far. John Stones also picked up a problem during the Udinese match after starting at centre-back for the first time, adding further defensive uncertainty. Goalkeeper Josep Martinez, meanwhile, has drawn scrutiny following errors in consecutive games against Real Madrid and Udinese, with reports suggesting Chivu may consider a change between the posts.

Off the pitch, former sporting director Piero Ausilio is closing in on a move to Tottenham Hotspur, ending his long association with the club. Roma away, with Inter and their hosts level on points, now shapes as the defining early test of where this side genuinely stands.