Lautaro Martinez is looking forward to the Europa League Final with ‘tough opponent’ Sevilla. ‘I want to win my first trophy with Inter.’
It kicks off in Cologne on Friday at 20.00 UK time (19.00 GMT).
“I'm very happy because we are very close to achieving one of our goals – to lift a trophy,” he told UEFA.com after bagging a brace in the 5-0 semi-final win over Shakhtar Donetsk.
“Let's hope that our last match [of the season] will be a great day, and we'll bring the trophy back to Italy.
Lautaro Martinez is looking forward to the Europa League Final with ‘tough opponent’ Sevilla. ‘I want to win my first trophy with Inter.’
It kicks off in Cologne on Friday at 20.00 UK time (19.00 GMT).
“I'm very happy because we are very close to achieving one of our goals – to lift a trophy,” he told UEFA.com after bagging a brace in the 5-0 semi-final win over Shakhtar Donetsk.
“Let's hope that our last match [of the season] will be a great day, and we'll bring the trophy back to Italy.
“I think the team's personality and day-to-day work ethic have shown that Inter are growing and building to achieve great things. And, on a personal note, [I want] to try to win my first title with Inter, which would be very special. It's the first final [for me]; it could mean the first trophy of my career.
“Sevilla are a tough opponent, one that presses, gets around the pitch and plays great football. That's why they've reached the final. We have to study, train and prepare ourselves like we've done in every game so that we're able to stop the things they do well and counter them to benefit from that.
“Sevilla reached many finals and that's for a reason. It means they're a serious team, a team that plays well. So we'll watch out for what they can do.
“But we're mainly focused on ourselves. We're focused on our job, we're focused on Inter, on what it means to have reached a final after such a long time, and on what it can mean to lift a trophy at the moment. Right now, we're very close to it. We have the chance, and we'll play like we have to.”
Inter have made huge steps forward over the last month or so, as something appeared to click in the post-lockdown period.
“As a team, we are maturing. At the start of the season, we gave ourselves objectives. In Serie A, we were close, but it was also a tough season for everyone.
“However, I honestly think we're satisfied, but perhaps with a sour taste in the mouth for finishing only a point behind Juventus. But now we are showing that we've grown, that we're very united as a group. And that's important for what lies ahead.”
Lautaro Martinez was asked for his views on coach Antonio Conte, who took over last summer from Luciano Spalletti.
“I'll always be thankful to him because as soon as he arrived at Inter he called me, when I was on holiday after the Copa América. He's a coach who trusts me and that has helped me to grow.
“He's helped me to change my mentality as well – not just me, but the whole group – and this is really important for us at Inter. Hopefully we can continue on this path.”