Lautaro: Winning the Champions League is a goal, not an obsession

For Lautaro Martínez, winning the Champions League is the dream at Inter Milan, but it cannot become an obsession.

“It is a goal. As I always say, we dream of everything. It is not an obsession. We have to stay calm,” the Inter captain said at a news conference before the opening league-phase match against Real Madrid. He emphasized the competition’s prestige and the quality of its teams, adding that winning the trophy had been his objective since he joined the club.

“

It is a goal. As I always say, we dream of everything. It is not an obsession. We have to stay calm. This competition has enormous prestige, with teams of tremendous quality. Of course it is a goal, I have said that since I arrived.

Inter exited the competition early last season after losing to Bodø/Glimt in the qualifying phase for the round of 16. Martínez said each season brings a different challenge and that the team must learn from both its mistakes and the things it did well. His aim, he said, is to take Inter to the highest level possible in every competition.

“

The most important thing is that Inter win. I hear these opinions, but I have scored many important goals. At Inter, the team is what matters.

The Argentine also rejected criticism that he fails to score in important games. “The most important thing is that Inter win. I hear these opinions, but I have scored many important goals,” he said, stressing that the team comes first. He cited Inter’s recent victory over a strong Napoli side as an important result.

Martínez said he knows the history of Inter’s Champions League triumph at the Santiago Bernabéu 16 years ago, when the club beat Bayern Munich in the final under José Mourinho, now Real Madrid’s coach. But he said the current team must focus on the present. He described Real Madrid as a powerful side with many champions, while insisting that Inter has its own weapons and is growing as a group.

“

I know the history very well and what happened. But today we are far removed from what happened then. I am focused on doing my job in the best way and on the group doing the best positive work to get a positive result.

He also praised Kylian Mbappé as one of the world’s best forwards and explained that Inter’s attacking players are expected to press and contribute defensively. For Martínez, that responsibility comes naturally within the team’s style of play.

“

We are facing a great team, with many champions and players of a very high level, but we have our weapons and players who show every year that they are also at a very high level.