Aleksandar Kolarov believes Cristian Chivu has got Inter moving in the right direction ahead of his first return to former club Parma on Wednesday. 

Chivu joined the Nerazzurri from Parma back in June and has since guided Inter to the top of the Serie A table, with their latest victory seeing them down Bologna on home soil. 

Piotr Zielinski, Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram were all on target Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in what was huge result, after seeing title rivals AC Milan and Napoli also win. 

Inter are the strong favourites to lift the Scudetto in 2025-26, winning 59.6% of the Opta supercomputer's season simulations, with defending champions Napoli second (21.8%). 

Chivu's arrival at the club was because of his winning mentality as a player, with Inter having narrowly missed out on several major honours during last season. 

They finished as runners-up in the Supercoppa Italiana and the Champions League, while also being dumped out of the Coppa Italia semi-finals and finishing second in Serie A. 

"We didn't want to transform Inter, but rather add things. The team came so close to winning many trophies last season and unfortunately just missed out," Kolarov said.

"We pressed a few buttons and worked on the training field, I think the squad is going in the right direction.

"Once the second half of the season starts, it's a very different situation, so we are top of the table and want to stay there. It is going to take a lot of hard work."

Kolarov was on media duties after their win over Bologna last weekend because Chivu had lost his voice during the encounter, despite his side running out comfortable winners. 

Former boss Simone Inzaghi famously missed several post-match interviews because he lost his voice by shouting on the touchline. 

And Kolarov conceded that his post-match responsibilities could be heightened as the season progresses. 

"Chivu seems very calm, but he's really not! I think Cristian might even shout more," confessed Kolarov.

"Having said that, I was not as close on the bench with Inzaghi as I was with Chivu, so it might just be the distance."

Parma find themselves down in 14th in the standings, but have lost just one of their last four league matches (W2 D1) and will be hoping to cause an upset here. 

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Parma – Mateo Pellegrino

Following an assist against Fiorentina and a goal against Sassuolo, Mateo Pellegrino could become the first player to be involved in at least one goal in three consecutive Serie A matches for Parma since Dejan Kulusevski did so in July 2020 (against Napoli, Brescia and Atalanta).

The last Argentinian player to achieve this feat was Hernan Crespo, between November and December 2010 (against Lazio, Inter and Udinese).

Inter – Lautaro Martinez

Lautaro Martinez has scored in five consecutive Serie A appearances for Inter for the first time since between December 2023 and January 2024.

The last Nerazzurri player to score in six successive Serie A matches was Julio Cruz, who managed to do so between October and December 2007 (seven goals in that run).

MATCH PREDICTION: INTER WIN

Inter are unbeaten in their last seven Serie A matches against Parma (W4 D3) but have never gone eight consecutive league games without defeat against them. Parma's last top-flight victory against the Nerazzurri dates back to 15 September 2018. 

But after their 2-2 draw in their most recent encounter on 5 April, Parma and Inter could draw two Serie A matches in a row for the first time since between September 2004 and February 2005 (when both games also ended 2-2).

But Chivu's side arrive at Stadio Ennio Tardini with confidence. They have won six of their eight away games in Serie A this season (L2) and could secure at least seven wins in their first nine away league matches of a campaign for the fifth time in their history. 

Parma could, however, go three games unbeaten in Serie A for the first time under Carlos Cuesta. The last time they registered a longer unbeaten run in the top-flight was between March and April, under now Inter boss Chivu (W1 D6).

And following their last home win (1-0 vs Fiorentina), Parma could also secure back-to-back home victories in Serie A for the first time since January 2020, when they defeated Lecce and Udinese under Roberto D'Aversa.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Parma – 14.5%

Draw – 19.5%

Inter – 65.9%