Inter striker Lautaro Martinez feels that this evening’s Serie A match is an important opportunity for the Nerazzurri to start playing catch-up at the start of the table.
Speaking to InterTV ahead of the match, via FCInterNews, the 25-year-old stressed the need for the team to make a final push in the league to try and regain their top four spot, starting this afternoon against the Biancocelesti.
Inter are hardly out of the running for a direct qualifying place for next season’s Champions League, particularly after yesterday evening’s dramatic late draw between Roma and AS Milan gave the Nerazzurri the opportunity to catch up to both.
Meanwhile, Juventus are yet to play Bologna today.
However, as things stand Inter are in seventh following Atalanta’s win over Torino yesterday evening, a consequence of their woeful run of form in March and April.
Things look to have stabilized after Sunday’s league win over Empoli, the Nerazzurri’s first in six matches, whilst progressing to the Champions League semifinals and Coppa Italia final has also given the team a lift.
However, this afternoon Inter will face one of their toughest remaining league fixtures of the season at least on paper.
With a win, Inter could take a big step back into the top four, also pegging back second-placed Lazio to within four points.
However, without three points the Nerazzurri would still find themselves adrift, and with fewer and fewer matches left in which to claw back a spot in the top four.
Accordingly, this was the emphasis put on it by striker Martinez before this afternoon’s match at the San Siro.
“Today is a very important match in terms of the league table, we’re behind and we have to catch up,” he said.
“Three points will be vital today,” he added.
“We need everyone including the fans, they’ve always pushed us on, they’ve been important to us this season.”