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Inter, only Monza in the first half. Thank goodness for Pio.

Inter came through after a poor opening half to secure Chivu’s first three points of the season against Monza.

Flat before the break, outstanding after it. Asleep at the start, fully switched on by the end. Careless early, clinical later. However you choose to describe it, Inter’s 4-1 victory over Monza only truly came alive in the second half, after an unexpectedly difficult spell and after confirming a couple of truths that have been evident for months: Pio Esposito is a force, and Diouf is unstoppable.

Chivu’s team began at high speed: quick, direct and sharp. More precisely, it came from a long ball by goalkeeper Martinez, a flick by centre-forward Martinez, a duel involving Pio, and a delicate lay-off from Diouf before Calhanoglu smashed home. The goal arrived after six minutes and lifted the mood immediately. But the remaining 40 minutes of the first half brought only tension. From then until the interval, it was Monza who controlled matters, with a youthful presence in the stands as well, Pedro Obiang making his debut as sporting director, and above all a very young side on the pitch: two players born in 2005, the Portuguese Varela and the Frenchman Ondoa; two born in 2006, the Italians Kouadio and Bakoune; and one born in 2007, Mout, also Italian. Gustavo Varela himself, signed for a couple of million from Benfica through Gil Vicente, completely beat Akanji before scoring for 1-1. The moment was brief, but it sent a shiver around San Siro. After the interval, normal service resumed — the kind of normality that, for obvious reasons, cannot allow even a remotely even contest between Inter and Monza. Zielinski then scored after a mistake by goalkeeper Pizzignacco, Pio Esposito added one with a backheel that is already a contender for goal of the season, and Bisseck completed the scoring with one of his trademark driving runs.

Player ratings: Martinez did his job, though he looked uncertain on a couple of occasions. Bisseck was heavily involved, while Akanji and Bastoni were much less convincing. The Swiss defender was embarrassing on Monza’s temporary equaliser, while the Italian still has not fully shaken off the lack of sharpness that marked last season. In midfield, while waiting for the “made in England” arrivals, Diouf and Zielinski both produced excellent displays, despite being the two players most likely to make way for Spence and Curtis Jones. Barella and Dimarco were ordinary, while Calhanoglu delighted everyone with the first goal of the 26/27 league season. In attack, Lautaro increasingly looked like a “Diez” playing behind Pio. Before kick-off, Marotta had moved to distance him from Barcelona, assuming there had ever really been contact at all — and there is nothing to suggest there was. During the match, Inter’s captain still appeared far from being in acceptable condition, which is understandable for a player who had only just returned from the World Cup. Lastly, Pio Esposito impressed, and impressed greatly. Not just because of the goal either. He plays with personality, self-belief and generosity. He wears the No 94 shirt for Inter; for Italy, he could be the No 9 for many years to come.