Lautaro Martinez: ‘Inter felt helpless after 5-0 Champions League Final defeat’

epa12148206 Lautaro Martinez of Inter looks disappointed after losing the UEFA Champions League final between Paris Saint-Germain and Internazionale Milano in Munich, Germany 31 May 2025. EPA-EFE/FILIP SINGER

Lautaro Martinez admits he ‘couldn’t speak for five days’ after Inter’s 5-0 Champions League Final defeat to PSG. ‘We felt helpless.’

The Nerazzurri reached their second Champions League Final in just three years, but while they were the underdogs and pushed Manchester City harder than expected in a 1-0 loss in 2023, this was a very different experience.

They were crushed 5-0 by Paris Saint-Germain, the final nail in the coffin of a disastrous season that saw them empty-handed, with coach Simone Inzaghi departing for Al-Hilal.

Lautaro Martinez and Inter traumatised by PSG

Speaking to France Football after he was nominated for the Ballon d’Or, Inter captain Lautaro Martinez admits he was traumatised by the events of that night.

“I couldn’t speak for five days after the Champions League Final against PSG. I was blocked, a bit distressed, and sad. We reached two Champions League Finals in the last three years.

“We had a great run, but in the last game, we’ve always been missing something to achieve our main goal, which is to win the Champions League.”

The capitulation was unexpected, especially considering the battle Inter had put in to eliminate Barcelona 7-6 on aggregate in extra time during that dramatic semi-final.

“We knew that PSG would be a tough opponent, a solid team with a lot of confidence. But we were strong as well,” explained Lautaro Martinez.

“The last week, we prepared in a calm atmosphere, with a sense of peace and confidence. So yes, ‘helplessness’ is the right word for how we felt, because we couldn’t do any of what we had worked on.

“We just couldn’t translate that onto the pitch, and that was the thing that annoyed us the most.”

💔 Five days without speaking — that’s how hard Lautaro Martinez took Inter’s 5-0 Champions League final defeat to PSG.
What’s your memory of that game?
📖 Full interview this Saturday in France Football.#ballondor pic.twitter.com/NAQwL6qn1T

— Ballon d’Or (@ballondor) September 5, 2025

Paris Saint-Germain had never won the Champions League before, but with Gianluigi Donnarumma in goal, they completed the quadruple of trophies.

“They deserved this result, they played a great Final.”