Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martinez feels that Marko Arnautovic deserved his Champions League goal based on his effort.
The 27-year-old praised his teammate in an interview with InterTV, via FCInterNews, following the Nerazzurri’s 1-0 Champions League victory over Atletico Madrid courtesy of an Arnautovic goal.
Arnautovic was not necessarily the likeliest candidate to score Inter’s decisive goal in a big Champions League win.
But it was the Austrian who managed to break through in a tough round of sixteen first leg.
Arnautovic had only come off the bench as a substitute for the second half. He replaced Marcus Thuram following an injury to the Frenchman.
And Arnautovic had a couple of misses after coming on.
But the Austrian never gave up. And eventually he got it – his fourth goal of the season, and a potentially vital advantage for Inter to hang onto in the second leg of their tie against Atletico.
Lautaro Martinez Praises Marko Arnautovic For “Giving His All In Training”
Inter captain Martinez was happy for his teammate after that big goal.
“He gives his all in training,” the Argentine said of Arnautovic.
“And he’s had a great career.”
“He always gives a lot for the shirt, and he deserved the goal,” Martinez said of the 34-year-old.
“He did very well after coming on.
Of the match against Atletico as a whole, Martinez said that “In the first half we struggled to move the ball around.”
“They closed us down well,” he added. “We were too slow in possession.”
“In the second half we made some changes,” the Nerazzurri captain added.
“The spirit has always been the same. We sped up our game.”
“I think we had an excellent second half,” Martinez said. “We could have done better in the first.”
The 26-year-old said that “Every match we improve. Every training session we improve. Now we have to keep going on this path.”
