Inter striker Lautaro Martinez is fully focused on Wednesday’s Supercoppa Italiana clash against AC Milan after scoring the only goal in tonight’s 1-0 win over Hellas Verona.
The Argentina international struck in the opening minutes of the Serie A match at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza to give the Nerazzurri victory, ahead of a trip to Saudi Arabia to contest the Super Cup against Milan.
In an interview with Italian television broadcaster DAZN after the final whistle, and as reported by FCInterNews.it, Martinez revealed that he had been struggling with an ankle problem during Argentina’s triumphant World Cup campaign in Qatar before Christmas.
“The secret is my desire,” Martinez declared, upon becoming the highest scoring Argentine in top level European football this season.
“Even at the World Cup I wanted to do well, but I had been carrying around an ankle problem for a month. But you always tries to grit your teeth and stay on the pitch to help your teammates.”
With the season’s first piece of silverware up for grabs in Riyadh, Martinez insisted that Inter were determined to secure the Supercoppa Italiana and the rivalry with Milan added to the spectacle.
“We are charged up because it’s a derby, it’s a final and we are playing for another trophy. We have to get used to winning and playing finals, it will be a very nice game to play.
“We talk about our objectives, about trying every day to tidy up the details because in the end that’s how football is,” the former Racing Club striker added.
Inter secured victory over Verona but the scoreline was closer than predicted, despite the Gialloblu’s battles to avoid relegation, and Martinez felt it was an important win.
“We still have to improve, but today we had to win and we did it even if with difficulty, they play at full stretch. We took three points which are important,” he went on.
Martinez has scored nine goals in 18 Serie A appearances this season for Inter.
