Cristian Chivu knows the physical and tactical steps Inter are taking are more important than their pre-season results, after they played out a 1-1 draw with rivals AC Milan.

Optus Stadium in Perth played host to the Derby della Madonnina on Wednesday, with plenty of first-team players getting meaningful minutes for both sides.

Inter went in front when Federico Dimarco turned Nicolo Barella's centre home seven minutes after half-time, but the concession of a soft penalty cost them the bragging rights.

Carlos Augusto was judged to have brought Christopher Nkunku down, and the Frenchman got up to dispatch the resulting spot-kick in the 84th minute.

Inter played out another 1-1 draw – against Manchester City – in their previous friendly on Saturday, as they build towards their Serie A title defence.

They are looking to win the Scudetto in back-to-back campaigns for the first time since winning five titles in a row between 2005-06 and 2009-10 – the first of those crowns was awarded to the Nerazzurri following the Calciopoli scandal, while the last was part of the treble won under Jose Mourinho. 

"I saw improvement, the lads are working hard, and at this moment the results are not as important as the work we're doing," Chivu told Inter TV after Wednesday's game.

"I would say some players got good minutes, and we are happy with the quality they expressed, despite not being in the best condition and not yet being fit.

"At the beginning of the game, we struggled a bit to occupy the spaces; we made a few mistakes in dribbling and bringing the ball out. We were in a bit of a hurry to do things. But there was also the skill of the opponents, who caused us trouble with their press. 

"As the minutes went by, we grew, we found more ways out, and I would say that we played quite well."

Inter still have players to welcome back into the fold, with striker Lautaro Martinez chief among them after he helped Argentina reach the World Cup final.

The Nerazzurri open their Serie A campaign against Monza on August 22, and Chivu will continue to steadily increase his star players' workloads.

"At the moment our main concern remains the integrity of the players, their health and their physical condition," Chivu said.

"We have to respect the principles of what we are trying to convey and try to add something to what the team has shown it can do in recent years."