The consequences of May 31 are greater than the elimination from the Club World Cup by Fluminense. If the defeat to the Brazilians served as a pretext to remove annoying stones from their shoes, Inter's concern dates back to the unfortunate night of the Champions League final with the humiliation suffered by PSG, which has brought a psychological shock that seems to be breaking up the group. The words of captain Lautaro, then the clarifications of president Marotta, the stinging response of Calhanoglu and the positioning of several teammates, among them Thuram, prompted technician Chivu to lock the team in the Charlotte hotel and ask for a dressing room confrontation without other interference, including the directors.
What the players said to each other will be learned over time because, if it is true that the unwritten rule is that what happens in the locker room stays there, history shows that something will sooner or later come to light and further explain the dynamics, eventually the factions and attitudes, at a moment when the rift has become more visible and publicly displayed, causing a mess that risks sinking the blue-black boat before it can get back into the water.
Nighttime confrontation with players, requested by Chivu
Faced with what happened, it was coach Cristian Chivu who requested a direct confrontation between the players present in America and – presumably – with the rest of the team scattered here and there for various reasons. No one else: staff and managers excluded, to avoid possible conflicts of interest or collaborative silences. It is difficult to think that there was a connection from a distance with Hakan Calhanoglu, who is currently in Turkey, but nothing is ruled out. Most likely there was a direct connection from Appiano where the injured are, all the players that Inter took to America were surely present at the Charlotte hotel, led by Lautaro Martinez who threw the bomb without hiding his hand, but creating a boomerang effect, currently devastating.
The hotel confrontation: who was there and what was said
The face-to-face confrontation requested and achieved, Chivu has left space for the players. The first voices indicate that the "senators" of the group have taken the floor, among them the two members of "ThuLa", Thuram and Lautaro, "divided" by a consent of the Frenchman in the distance confrontation with Calhanoglu. The impression is that the words of the Argentinean touched other strings than that of the Turkish midfielder, seeing that a first stream of news hints, in addition to the now former player Arnautovic, Thuram, Pavard and Frattesi with the desire to evaluate other choices. Nothing confirmed, this will be shown by time, which will reveal the fruits of a confrontation requested by Chivu and approved by a leader who likes the "iron fist" of the coach.
What happens now at Inter: new meeting on July 23 at Appiano Gentile
It should be the last act of a period that should be archived and closed at the bottom of a coffin: now is the time for rest and physical regeneration, but above all mental. There will be three weeks of necessary collective rest, each for himself, but with Inter in mind: the meeting to see each other again is scheduled for July 23 with the start of the gathering at Appiano Gentile. That will be the date of truth and the black and blue cards in the hands of the Romanian Chivu and a club that is trying to get rid of the psychodrama of May 31 will be finally revealed.