Lautaro Martinez's tribute to Interisti

PISA, SUNDAY – Lautaro Martinez, who has recently been in the spotlight for his meager goal-scoring record, responded with two braces against Pisa in the 13th week of the Italian Serie A. The Nerazzurri squad's El Capitano is now edging closer to legendary status with 163 goals, two ahead of Sandro Mazzola, and is Inter's fourth-highest scorer. For Martinez, the 2-0 victory over Pisa was the fruit of the team's hard work and sweat, bringing joy to the Interisti.

This match at the Garibaldi Arena was not an easy match for Inter, even though on paper Martinez and his friends were superior in everything. Pisa's tight defensive and aggressive game in marking closed the space for passing passes. The first half, which ended goalless, required Martinez and his friends to fight harder and make slight changes to the game.

A goal was finally scored in the 68th minute, initiated by a pass from Piotr Zielinski to Pio Esposito on the right side of Pisa's defense, who immediately delivered a cross to Martinez, penetrating the penalty area. Martinez responded with a single touch of his left foot to shake the net of Pisa's goal.

The second goal was scored in the 83rd minute, initiated once again by Zielinski, who skillfully deceived the Pisa players surrounding him. The Polish midfielder then delivered a pass to Andy Diouf, who immediately forwarded it to Nicolo Barella, penetrating the left side of the Pisa penalty area. Barella sent a cross towards the goal, which was met by Martinez with a sliding effort, redirecting the ball with his right foot into the Pisa net.

Martinez's two goals were reminiscent of the pure Serie A strikers of the 90s, who were capable of scoring in difficult situations and positions. This brace also confirmed that Martinez's ability is beyond doubt. This season, he has only scored six goals in 13 Serie A appearances and four goals in four Champions League matches. However, he has shown improvement in Inter's new playing style under coach Cristian Chivu.

I work for the team, for Inter, for myself, and for my family. Let us allow those outside to speak.

Martinez indeed needs to be more productive in scoring goals, as Inter has often struggled to find the net in several crucial matches. Therefore, Martinez's role moving forward is expected to grow alongside his partner Marcis Thuram, supported by the midfield line. The two goals against Pisa mark a solid beginning for Martinez to regain his status as a predator.

"I am very happy because we achieved three points; this is something we have been looking for after two defeats. We did our job, and that is the most important thing. I am pleased because the first half was difficult; they pressed us from the sides, but in the second half, we played better. It is important to secure these three points," said Martinez on Inter Milan's website after the match, Sunday (30/11/2025) evening WIB.

"During the break, we discussed how to improve several aspects. After that goal, the game changed; previously, they were guarding every passing lane," Martinez continued.

Regarding the criticism directed at him for his lack of goals, the 28-year-old striker emphasized that he does not dwell on it. He has been accustomed to criticism since 2015 when he played for Inter, and he remains focused on himself, working hard during training and continuously improving.

"I work for the team, for Inter, for myself, and for my family. Let those outside speak. My sole duty is to bring joy to Inter fans," Martinez asserted.

"I still have many years left on my contract, I am happy here, people love me. The team has always been the priority. I just think about working, day by day. Sometimes everything goes well, sometimes it doesn't, but what matters is to take Inter even higher," said Martinez, who has been loyal to Inter for a decade.

After this victory, Martinez and his teammates can only rest briefly, as on Wednesday Milan time, or Thursday (4/12/2025) early morning WIB, Inter will host Venezia in the round of 16 of the Coppa Italia.

"Now we need to recharge our batteries because Wednesday is the Coppa Italia, which requires a lot of energy, but we've recovered well and now we have a few days to recover. Inter must reach the final in every competition, and Wednesday is a crucial match for us in front of our fans," concluded the captain.

The match against Pisa is very important for Inter to return to the winning path after losing to AC Milan in Serie A and Atletico Madrid in the Champions League. The victory brings relief to Chivu, although he knows that there is still a long way to go in establishing a consistent playing pattern for Inter in every match.

"This match was not easy; we faced a well-organized and prepared team. We are pleased with the focus, maturity, and patience they displayed on the field today. You always need passion, even on a Wednesday: we are Inter, and we have the obligation and duty to fight in all competitions. Today we had the passion to react," emphasized Chivu.

"Pisa has gone through six unbeaten matches, and they have not conceded a single goal at home since September. We are aware of the risks we will face, and we approach the match with organization, patience, and maturity. Of course, we can sometimes play better, but we will accept what we have done. This team deserves this because they show their passion to engage and have a strong season every day," Chivu continued.

The former Inter defender, who won the treble in 2010, also emphasized that he never doubted Martinez. He's a very dangerous striker, and every time he doesn't score, he's the target of criticism. However, Martinez always bounces back and shows his class. Chivu is also pleased with the increasingly solid roles of Zielinski and Esposito, who are bringing Inter's game to life.

"The quality and determination of Lautaro in front of the goal are very decisive. The substitutions also changed the game in the second half, with Zielinski being more quality, Esposito being more physical, and a greater desire to achieve results," said Chivu.

"We know the importance of our players, especially the captain. There are rumors that cast doubt on him, but we know how important he is and how hard he works for this team," emphasized the Romanian coach.

Chivu then elaborated on how he shows Martinez support every day during these difficult times.

"I hug him every day. It's a pity there are no cameras to record all of that. This is my way of doing things; we also talk to each other like this. This is new, but it shows how much we interact every day. I am happy for him because strikers live for goals and always want to help the team. And I am pleased with the reaction of the entire group today," Chivu stated.

Regarding the tactics and strategies he implemented, particularly the player substitutions that proved effective, Chivu emphasized that all Inter players can be relied upon. He strives to maximize their potential in every match with strategies that align with each player's abilities.

"The coach makes substitutions to assist the team, to bring in new energy. Skills are not only measured by player substitutions but by the overall management of the group. We have 22 quality players, and we can rely on everyone to help Inter perform at their best," emphasized Chivu.

"I know who I am and I know my commitment to this job. Being the coach of a team like Inter is a great honor. I am aware of my responsibilities to the club, to the fans, and to these great people who give everything to honor these colors," concluded Chivu.

Following matchday 13, Inter sits in third place with 27 points, just one point behind second-place Napoli and top-of-the-table AC Milan. Meanwhile, AS Roma sits in fourth with 27 points, having lost 0-1 to Napoli. The Serie A title race this season will be fierce, and the Scudetto will be determined by the teams' consistent performance.