Lautaro Martinez apologised to Inter fans after their surprise 1-0 defeat to Bologna left them 18 points off leaders Napoli. ‘We’ll get nowhere playing like this.’
The Nerazzurri knew that Napoli had already beaten Empoli 2-0 yesterday, so they needed a victory to keep the gap at 15 points, but were undone at the Stadio Dall’Ara by a Riccardo Orsolini chest and half-volley into the roof of the net.
“It would be wrong to talk too much in the heat of the moment, but the sensation I have right now is that we’ll get nowhere playing like this,” Lautaro Martinez told Sky Sport Italia.
“We need to be more consistent, we just played a great game in the Champions League, we arrive here fired up and then put in this performance.
“We’ve got to get our heads up and push forward, because we’ll get nowhere like this.”
It is hardly the first time in 2023 that Inter have followed up a great result with a desperately disappointing one in a fixture that on paper was easier.
That points to a psychological issue and Lautaro Martinez agrees it is in their heads.
“Bologna are a good side, they played better than us today and deserved the win. We need to be more consistent, like we were against Porto.
“I am here to apologise to all the Inter fans who support us. I want to be clear both in front of the microphone and in the locker room with my teammates, I am always the same person, so if I feel the need to say something, then I say it.”
The World Cup winner with Argentina seemed genuinely furious at himself and his teammates for fumbling these opportunities in the Scudetto race, especially as now even the top four is at risk.
“I always try to give 100 per cent, sometimes the ball goes in and sometimes it doesn’t. I work hard for Inter, for my teammates, I leave it all on the pitch. I am a player and you are journalists, you evaluate what we do on the pitch. What I need to tell my teammates, I do it in the locker room.
“We are 18 points behind Napoli, so clearly something is not working.”
Inter are currently second on 47 points, so Roma and Milan could both catch them in second place with a victory in this round.