Lautaro Martinez: ‘Inter perfect build-up for Champions League Final’ | OneFootball

Lautaro Martinez insists Inter have the ‘perfect’ build-up to the Champions League Final against Paris Saint-Germain. ‘We arrive with more experience than in Istanbul’ when losing to Manchester City.

The Final is in Munich on Saturday May 31, kicking off at 20.00 UK time (19.00 GMT, 21.00 CET).

Today was Media Day at the Inter training ground, so the players and coach Simone Inzaghi held a series of interviews.

Although Paris Saint-Germain also lost the Final in recent years, hardly and of the squad or coach Luis Enrique were part of that adventure, whereas the Nerazzurri are largely unchanged from the disappointment of 2023.

Lautaro Martinez and Inter changed since 2023

epa12078672 FC Inter’s Lautaro Martinez scores the 1-0 goal during the UEFA Champions League semifinal 2nd leg soccer match between Inter Milan and FC Barcelona, in Milan, Italy, 06 May 2025. EPA-EFE/ROBERTO BREGANI

“We arrive with a little more experience compared to the game in Istanbul, as two years ago we played the Final against a strong team, we lost, but also matured a great deal since then,” Lautaro Martinez told Sky Sport Italia.

“Now we arrive in a perfect way, in every sense. The team is almost the same one that played in Istanbul. We know it will be tough, but we showed a spirit of sacrifice and unity, deserving our place in this Final. Now there is one last step to take.”

It is an intriguing description to say Inter have a ‘perfect’ build-up when they lost the Scudetto by a single point, having also lost the Supercoppa Italiana Final and the Coppa Italia semi-final this season. It means they could well go from potential Treble winners to ending the campaign empty-handed.

“The first three days, there is sadness and bitterness, that is just how I experience football. I don’t like losing and when it happens, I feel bad for days,” confessed Lautaro Martinez.

“Now we have a huge appointment coming up, there is no time to mull over it, we can only prepare to make this dream come true. We worked so hard this season and fully deserved our place in the Final.”

Instead, Paris Saint-Germain are on track for the Treble, or quadruple if you consider the French Super Cup.

Fitness concerns over Lautaro Martinez

BARCELONA, SPAIN – APRIL 30: Lautaro Martinez of FC Internazionale warms up with teammate Denzel Dumfries prior to the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Semi Final First Leg match between FC Barcelona and FC Internazionale Milano at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on April 30, 2025 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

The Inter captain had been struggling with injury during the semi-final against Barcelona, but still managed to play his part in the 7-6 aggregate thriller, then was rested for several weeks to regain full fitness.

“I feel at 100 per cent,” he assured. “We need to give our all, those on the pitch, on the bench and in the stands. I want to win everything with all my heart, for me, for my family, and above all for the Inter supporters and this club that adopted me from the first day.

“We must play with our hearts and heads.”

Davide Frattesi emotionally revealed his grandmother had passed just days before he scored the decider in the Champions League semi-final against Barcelona, and Lautaro Martinez is in a similar position.

“My grandmother is not going through a good time right now, so I am thinking of her.”