Cristian Chivu has decided that Josep Martinez will start again in goal for Inter against Shakhtar, even after the serious errors that marked recent Champions League matches against Real Madrid and Bruges. It is a clear show of trust from the coach, but also a sign that the goalkeeper situation at the club is still very much in flux.
Inter go into the match under pressure because they still have 0 points in the Champions League, so the choice in goal matters well beyond one individual performance. Martinez is being backed again, while the club continues to protect its investment in a 32-year-old who has already been through a difficult spell in Europe.
Chivu keeps faith in Martinez
The decision is not only about immediate form. Chivu has defended Martinez publicly and privately, and this start suggests he still believes the goalkeeper can respond in the right way. Inter have committed significant money to the move, with the fee set at 13 million plus 2 million in bonuses, so the club are clearly not ready to step away from him after a couple of bad nights.
That does not mean the hierarchy is settled. Far from it. The situation at Inter still looks open, and tonight’s selection is best understood as part of a wider assessment rather than a final judgement.
Provedel waits for his chance
Ivan Provedel remains the other major part of the picture. He has not played an official match since 4 March, and Inter want to see how he looks once he is back in action. The plan is for him to play on Sunday against Fiorentina, before another expected outing away to Venezia on Wednesday 28.
That means Martinez and Provedel are both being watched closely, but for different reasons. Martinez is being trusted to recover from Champions League mistakes, while Provedel is being eased back in after a long spell without matches.
For Inter, the short-term focus is simple: they need a response against Shakhtar. The longer-term question is whether Chivu can settle the goalkeeping issue before it becomes a bigger problem in Serie A and in Europe.
