Inter's 3-0 victory at Feyenoord on Tuesday night was exactly the response Cristian Chivu needed after a bruising weekend. The derby loss to Milan, a 3-1 defeat in which all the goals arrived in the first half, had cost Inter top spot in Serie A and left the squad visibly shaken. A commanding European away win, their second consecutive clean sheet in the competition, has done much to restore confidence and shift the mood inside the camp.

The result carried real significance beyond the scoreline. Bisseck opened the scoring early, Pio Esposito ended a two-month goal drought, and Zielinski wrapped up the win with a composed finish. Chivu also got strong showings from Barella and Dimarco, two players who had drawn criticism in recent weeks. The win moved Inter firmly into the Champions League playoff positions, and the squad's reaction after the derby suggested a group ready to channel their frustration productively.

The injury list remains a concern. Lautaro Martinez, Curtis Jones, John Stones and Luis Henrique all missed the Feyenoord match, while Bastoni served a suspension. Pavard returned to the squad, which offered some relief, but depth across several positions is still stretched. Off the pitch, president Marotta publicly closed the door on a return for Mauro Icardi and addressed contract situations for both Calhanoglu and Dimarco, signalling the club wants to resolve those renewals soon. Inter sit second in Serie A on 25 points, three behind Lazio, with Como visiting San Siro on Sunday.