Inter Milan Coach Defends Captain Ahead Of Man City Showdown: ‘He’s A Solution, Not A Problem’

Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi feels that captain Lautaro Martinez is a “solution” despite his recent form.

The Nerazzurri coach spoke about the captain’s form in a press conference ahead of tomorrow’s Champions league opener against Manchester City, as reported by FCInterNews.

In recent days, there have been big questions about the form of Inter captain Lautaro Martinez.

The Argentine started for Inter in their Serie A clash with Monza over the weekend.

However, Martinez was unable to find the back of the net in that match, as Inter slumped to a 1-1 draw.

That was the third match this season in which Martinez was unable to score. He had been absent from the team’s Serie A win over Lecce last month through injury.

Fitness has certainly played a role in Martinez’s early season slump.

The 27-year-old did not have much of a preseason due to his late return after the Copa America.

And there has been an evident lack of freshness and intensity to the Inter captain’s game.

Whether there are other factors or not, Martinez has not looked like the player who has been Inter’s top scorer in each of the last three seasons – and the top scorer for all of Serie A last time around.

Whatever the reason, Martinez’s form is starting to become a worry for Inter.

Inzaghi Defenders Lautaro Ahead Of Man City Showdown: “He’s A Solution”

Asked if he thinks that Martinez’s form is becoming an issue for Inter, Inzaghi replied “Absolutely not.”

“He’s our captain,” the Nerazzurri coach continued. “He’ll score many goals for us.”

“We need to evaluate and understand his situation. He returned to preseason almost a month after his teammates.”

“He worked hard in training but then he picked up an injury,” Inzaghi noted.

“He was out for a bit. And then he went away on international duty and started two matches.”

Inzaghi said that Martinez “has travelled a lot.”

“With matches and training session, he’ll find his best form,” the Inter coach was confident about his captain.

“As well as the goals that he has always scored.”

“He’ll always be a solution for me, and never a problem,” Inzaghi made clear of Martinez.

As far as tomorrow’s match, Inzaghi said that “Manchester City need no introduction.”

“We’re facing a team who are very strong, and very organized,” the Inter coach said.

“We’ve prepared for it at our best. We’ll need intensity, aggression, and a desire to sacrifice.”

As far as the fact that Inter are meeting the team that they faced in the final of the 2022-23 edition of the Champions League, Inzaghi said that “I don’t think it’s a rematch.”

“Because it’s not a final. It’s a group stage match in the new format.”

“In a final I believe the key episodes are vital,” Inzaghi said. “Pep knows that too.”

“Tomorrow, a new Champions League begins, which will be very different,” he continued.

The Nerazzurri coach observed that “Before, you had to prepare for three home matches and three away matches.”

“Now, it’s eight different teams,” Inzaghi said.

“We’ll try to prepare for it as well as we can.”

Inzaghi: Inter Can’t Give Man City Too Much Possession

Inzaghi then gave his thoughts on the kind of match tomorrow will be.

“We know that all teams in Europe allow City possession,” the Inter coach said.

“We’ll have to do very well in both phases. Both when City have the ball, and when we have it.”

“Pep’s very good at that,” Inzaghi said of the Cityzens’ coach.

“But we’ll have to do well when we have the ball, by being clean and technical with it.”

“Allowing City too much possession is not a good thing, and we saw that in the final.”

Of his team selection to face City, Inzaghi said that “Tomorrow I’ll still have some doubts, but I’ll resolve them.”

“We always set out to win,” Inzaghi said of tomorrow’s match.

“We know that there are budgets and other stuff, but I don’t like to think about excuses,” the Inter coach said.

“It will be a pleasure to see Pep Guardiola again,” he added.

“I’ve met him three times, and I’ve enjoyed myself twice, a bit less so in Istanbul,” inzaghi said.

“I think he’s the best coach around,” he said of Guardiola. “He’s an inspiration to me.”