The best game he watched live was the Dolphins’ win over the Commanders, sealed by a decisive interception in overtime, but on the historic Madrid Sunday of WL, Cristian Chivu enjoyed himself. He enjoyed the global show staged at the Bernabeu, and he also enjoyed the strong direction work from Miami. Florida has its own version of Hakan Calhanoglu, a controller of play, rational with the ball and tactical without it. His name is Tua Tagovailoa, a quarterback of Samoan origin who fought through a mountain of physical problems. Chivu, a hungry football follower, has his own "quarterback" at Inter and keeps him close, even more in the sacred week before the derby.
What are the instructions to Calhanoglu?
This new-old Calhanoglu, rebuilt in mind and body by the Romanian coach, remains the key to “opening” Milan. Sunday night’s match against his former club, and now also against his golden counterpart Luka Modric, is the one that excites the ambitious Hakan the most. Allegri’s Croatian playmaker is seen, even by Calha himself, as the best in that role over the past decade. Facing him, trying to beat him with running and ball circulation on his own ground, remains a privilege for any midfielder. The coach’s instructions to the Turkish midfielder complete the picture. Calha, who keeps Inter’s pulse when the team has the ball, is also the designated trigger for the high press. A large part of this high-profile derby will pass through Hakan’s ability to win the direct duel with the former Ballon d’Or.
On Sunday, Calhanoglu already left Montella’s Turkey camp after a medical note reported a hand issue that still needed proper checks. The captain of the Turkish national team would not have played today against Spain anyway because he was one booking away from suspension, and no one wanted to risk a yellow card before a delicate World Cup playoff. In the end, that pain “helped” bring him back to the city by yesterday evening. Today the Inter playmaker will enjoy the rest day Chivu grants to all internationals without exceptions. Inter’s medical staff contacted Turkey’s staff at once and received reassurance about the condition of Hakan’s hand. Tomorrow, back in Appiano, he will undergo another check, but there seems to be no problem in sight. Chivu also checked on his player personally and heard positive news from number 20. So Calha will be ready from the start to guide this vertical and furious football from midfield, like some NFL battles. For Chivu, football is not only a passion to follow abroad, like two days ago in Madrid, but also a major source of inspiration. Fast service to the forwards and high pressure are concepts shared by both sports, and at Inter these ideas work because the squad has an illuminated quarterback like Hakan, writes La Gazzetta dello Sport in this morning's print edition.
Sunday will be chapter 17 of his saga against Milan, which over time has become far less dramatic. The strongest feelings have faded. It is no longer lived as a battle of worlds, but for the Turkish midfielder it will always be a separate story. The sharpest rivalry of the derby could have disappeared in the summer, when the former Milan player turned “Inter idol,” as the North sings, seemed ready to return home. In the end, the Bosphorus stayed where it is, and Calha is doing well here along the Navigli. He has been adapted to a new style of play and given new motivation by his coach, and there is still room for growth. The next months aim at this, to align Hakan’s qualities with the new structure.
For now, he will bring pressure straight into Modric’s zone. Watching him play as a total playmaker, no one would think he is the same midfielder who dragged his feet not long ago. Even more surprising is the scoring table. The Turkish midfielder leads that too, one touchdown after another.
