Inter's Champions League campaign has started with a setback, and the manner of the defeat at Real Madrid is the story dominating the club right now. A 2-1 loss at the Bernabeu on September 8 was not simply about the scoreline. It was about how Inter contributed to their own downfall through individual mistakes from Jones, Bisseck, and goalkeeper Josep Martinez, whose error for the second goal has since sparked serious debate about the goalkeeping hierarchy. Reports linking Ivan Provedel to an immediate starting role have circulated, and how Chivu handles the situation between the posts will be closely watched.

Despite the defeat, the broader picture for Inter is not without encouragement. The performance at the Bernabeu showed a team capable of competing with Europe's elite, and Chivu's side sit third in Serie A with nine points from three games, level with Roma above them. That domestic form, built on a dramatic 3-2 comeback win over Napoli, gives the squad a platform to respond.

There are positive squad developments too. John Stones impressed after coming on at the Bernabeu and could start against Udinese on September 14. Andy Diouf earned a France call-up after a strong start to the season. The challenge now is to convert promising performances into consistent results, beginning with a home fixture that history suggests Inter should win but that carries its own risks given last season's surprise defeat to the same opponents.