Inter striker Lautaro Martinez is anticipating a tough match against Liverpool in the Champions League, but he believes that the Nerazzurri are capable of putting their stamp on the tie.
Speaking to Prime Video, as reported by FCInterNews, the 24-year-old emphasized that the Nerazzurri don’t plan to go into the tie thinking of themselves as underdogs.
Inter got one of the toughest draws of the Champions League group stage when a controversial re-draw meant that they are set to face Liverpool having initially thought they would get Ajax, not an easy opponent in themselves.
The Reds will also see the Nerazzurri as just about the toughest opponents that they could have gotten for the round of sixteen, and the tie promises to be one of the most balanced and high-quality of the round.
Martinez is looking forward to a match of this stature in Europe, and feels that it’s the kind of clash that the Nerazzurri belong in.
“They have many top players, they have quality,” he said of the Reds. “We have to prepare well for the match and work on the possession phase, because it will be important.”
He added that “They attack with a lot of men forward, they play with very fast forwards, we will have to be careful.”
The striker went on that “It’s a knockout round in a very important competition. So it will certainly be one of my most important matches in an Inter shirt.”
Of being called “one of the most exciting forwards in the world” by Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp, Martinez responded that “I’m happy to hear him say that, and I say thank you.”
“Klopp is a great coach,” he added. “He will certainly prepare his team well for this match. We have to do well, hurt them, and move forward.”
Reflecting on his own career development, Martinez said that “I’ve grown a lot, I’ve been playing in this competition for years now and it will be a wonderful game to play in.”
“We’ve finally made it to the knockout rounds,” he continued, “for us this was always very important. I hope to help the team to move forward, that’s our dream.”
“Inter always wants to be the protagonist,” he explained, “to keep the ball and attack with a lot of players. ”
On following in the footsteps of treble hero Diego Milito, first at Racing Club and now for the Nerazzurri, Martinez reflected that “He’s very important to me, he calls me often, he’s always there for me.”
“I have to thank him so much,” he went on. “I learned a lot from Milito. Coming onto the pitch where he once was was a special feeling, knowing what Diego represents for that club.”
“It made my dreams come true, it was a beautiful feeling,” he added.
Asked to build the “perfect Inter striker” by combining the quality of past Nerazzurri forwards, Martinez named “Milito’s right, Adriano’s left, Lukaku’s headers, and Ronaldo’s phenomenal dribbling.”
As for the heart of the player, he said “Let’s say it’s Lautaro’s. I always do my best for the team, on the pitch I do everything I can to help my teammates.”
And asked about whether he’s proud to keep the Argentine tradition at Inter going, the striker replied “A lot, I’ve always said that.”
“People have treated me in a special way from day one,” he added. “I hope to keep doing my best to take Inter as far as possible.”
