Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martínez faced the media on Tuesday ahead of the Italian Cup final against Lazio, sharing his thoughts on the upcoming clash, the team’s hunger for silverware, and the impact of coach Cristian Chivu.
“We expect a completely different game compared to last Saturday. We have to be fully prepared for the challenge tomorrow night. Lazio’s fans will be there, giving them an extra boost,” Lautaro said.
On the possibility of a rare domestic double
“Our desire for trophies never fades. We want to win every competition we enter. Now we have another final opportunity—after two years without reaching this stage, we can bring the cup home tomorrow. The idea of a ‘double’ is just a statistic; it has only happened once in our history, but all our focus is on winning this one trophy.”
On the team’s form during his second injury absence
“I’m proud of my teammates and what we achieved before I got hurt. Sure, we went through a rough patch, but that wasn’t just because I was out—form fluctuates in every season. We came through it the right way. We won the Serie A title, and now we want a second trophy.”
On the key to success this season—open communication early on
“Discussions and disagreements happen all the time in any squad. You have 25 different minds in one dressing room. Some of them, like our coach, have been in top clubs and know exactly what the team needs. We work closely together. Chivu brings passion and strong leadership. He has a clear personality—he can make us laugh but also keeps us calm and organized. At Inter, the only motto is: win.”
On the difficulty of staying focused
“We are professionals. We know how important it is to compete for trophies on two fronts at the same time.”
On his progress under Chivu
“I’ve improved a lot, and I’m very happy about that, even though the calf injury kept me out for a while. Now I’m back to my best. I’m satisfied with my season and with the coach. He knows everything about Inter. There were doubts when he first arrived, but he has proven himself with actions. We follow him, and that’s both beautiful and crucial for us.”