Lautaro Martinez takes ‘responsibility’ for Inter struggle | OneFootball

Lautaro Martinez took ‘responsibility’ for Inter’s derby defeat to Milan and felt frustrated at his failure to break the goal drought yet this season. ‘I’m lagging behind.’

The Nerazzurri had won six consecutive editions of the Derby della Madonnina and were hoping for a record seventh, but were beaten 2-1 as the ‘home’ team by Christian Pulisic and Matteo Gabbia goals.

Federico Dimarco had been able to temporarily equalise following a give and go with Lautaro Martinez.

“We certainly didn’t play the way we had prepared,” confessed Lautaro Martinez to DAZN.

“Our approach was not right from the start, then a bit better in the second half, but again not enough. We have a lot to improve, we need to get our heads down and work hard to raise everyone’s level.”

Lautaro Martinez is yet to score this season

The 27-year-old was Capocannoniere last season and top scorer when Argentina won the Copa America over the summer, but is yet to hit the back of the net so far this term in six games between Serie A and the Champions League.

“I am the first to take responsibility as captain. I feel that responsibility and realise I am not doing what I did last season, I’m lagging behind, but all I can do is keep working to get stronger,” concluded Lautaro Martinez.

His fitness levels are inevitably not at their best when he had no real pre-season with his club, which is why he was initially benched in the 0-0 Champions League draw away to Manchester City at the Etihad midweek.