Inter Milan clinched their 21st Scudetto with a 2-0 home win over Parma on Sunday, with Marcus Thuram and Henrikh Mkhitaryan scoring at San Siro. The triumph came three games early and left the Nerazzurri twelve points clear of Napoli — a dominant margin that matched the strength of their performances across the season.
Vieri, speaking to Corriere della Sera, was direct in his verdict.
"Inter have been the strongest side this year. And at times they have played some great football. Three teams were in the running — Milan in second for a long time and Napoli competitive again. That said, full credit to Allegri, who inherited a team far from the top, and a bit of bad luck for Conte."
On Chivu specifically, Vieri identified the psychological task of rebuilding a group still carrying the weight of last season's 5-0 Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain as the head coach's most significant achievement.
Vieri described Chivu as having good ideas and showing no fear in trusting young players and rotating his squad with confidence throughout the season — qualities that defined an approach that kept Inter fresh across nine months of competition. He said it was not simple to manage at a mental level but that Chivu proved himself equal to the demands of a club of Inter's size.
On Pio Esposito, the 20-year-old forward whose six Serie A goals contributed to Inter's title campaign, Vieri offered encouragement wrapped in honesty.
"There is still a long way to go — he needs to improve across the board. But the qualities are there and they are important."
Inter face Lazio in the Coppa Italia final on 14 May.