Lautaro Martinez: ‘Inter fans must never doubt’ commitment after 1-0 victory

epa11916936 Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez celebrates after scoring the 1-0 goal during the Italian Seria A soccer match between Inter Milan and Genoa, in Milan, Italy, 22 February 2025. EPA-EFE/DANIEL DAL ZENNARO

Lautaro Martinez assures Inter fans that they ‘must never doubt’ the passion of these players, while Josep Martinez warns the Scudetto clash with Napoli will not be the end ‘no matter what happens.’

The Nerazzurri were coming off a painful defeat to rivals Juventus in the Derby d’Italia and found it hard to break down a rugged Genoa side at San Siro.

It wasn’t until a bit of luck that they found the breakthrough, Lautaro Martinez’s header on a Hakan Calhanoglu corner deflected in off Patrizio Masini’s chest to wrong-foot Nicola Leali at the near post.

“We knew that we were coming off a defeat that hurt us a great deal. We understand the fans, we concentrate on our work and talked amongst ourselves, the important thing is that the squad remains united and gives its all for Inter,” Lautaro Martinez told Sky Sport Italia.

“People must never doubt that this group will give everything it has for Inter.”

With this goal, Lautaro Martinez becomes the first foreign player ever at Inter to score double figures in six consecutive Serie A campaigns. Was it also a message to Napoli ahead of next week’s Scudetto showdown?

“The message is for us, we dropped important points along the way, we are aware of that, and must continue to improve. Games like this can make a difference over the course of a campaign.”

There had been calls for Lautaro Martinez to be suspended after he was caught on camera seeming to utter a blasphemous phrase, but the footage was inconclusive and no further action taken.

“What was said about me was very hurtful. I never blaspheme. I try to pass that message on to my children too. I know the kind of person and father that I am, so my conscience is clear,” he added on DAZN.

Josep Martinez makes Inter Serie A debut

This was the first Serie A match of the season without goalkeeper Yann Sommer, who will be out for at least three weeks after surgery on a fractured thumb.

In a curious twist of fate, Josep Martinez made his Serie A debut for Inter against his former Genoa teammates, having only played in the Coppa Italia since the summer transfer.

“I am very happy for the team, because we knew this was an important and difficult match against a strong opponent, but we deserved the three points,” the goalkeeper told Sky Sport Italia.

“The Napoli game is a head-to-head and we are very close, but this is a long season ahead of us and we mustn’t think that it ends on Saturday, no matter what happens.”