Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martinez admits he felt “destroyed” after his team’s Champions League win over Barcelona.
Speaking to broadcaster TNT Sports UK, via FCInterNews, the 27-year-old looked back on the gruelling second leg clash.
Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martinez started both legs of his team’s Champions League semifinal tie against Barcelona.
In the first leg, the Argentine had to come off at halftime. This was the result of a physical problem – he had suffered an elongation in his thigh flexor muscles.
Martinez rushed back to fitness for the second leg, however.
For such an important match, there was little chance of the Nerazzurri captain missing out.
Therefore, Martinez started at the San Siro against Barcelona. And it would be fair to say that he had the desired impact.
Martinez scored Inter’s opening goal – and also won the penalty for their second.
However, it all came at a cost for Martinez on a physical level. The 27-year-old worsened his muscle problem, and did not feature in any of Inter’s last three matches of the season.
Inter Captain Lautaro Martinez: “I Felt Destroyed” After Champions League Win Vs Barcelona
After the match, Lautaro Martinez said that “I felt destroyed.”
“My leg was hurting badly,” continued the Inter captain. “The muscle had relaxed, and I was in a ton of pain.”
“Then with the adrenaline on the pitch it passed. But then for two days after, I couldn’t lift my lef.”
“It was important to get through to the final,” Martinez said.
“We did it. And we’re proud to be playing in another final.”
Meanwhile, Martinez said that Inter learned “a lot of things” from their Champions League final loss to Manchester City two years ago.”
“You always learn more from defeats,” he admitted. “That final left us with so much to learn.”
“We’re more mature,” Martinez said. “But that doesn’t mean anything.”
“Except it gives us strength, and an awareness of the kind of team that we are. The kind of group that we are.”
“And of the respect that we’ve earned in this competition,” Martinez added.
The Argentine then said that “we need to get back our energy, stay positive together, and prepare for the match at our absolute best.”
“We want to take Inter all the way to the top on Saturday,” said Martinez.
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