Lautaro: "We're excited to be here and want to respond"

At 21:00 CEST on Wednesday, Inter will face Barcelona at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys in the first leg of the semi-final tie between the sides in the UEFA Champions League.

On the eve of the clash, Lautaro Martinez sat alongside Simone Inzaghi and responded to journalists' questions:

Previously, there was Messi to fear. Now, there's Yamal. What do you think about this comparison? "Leo is special: he is and always will be the best player of all time. Yamal is an important player, and, for his age, has already won a lot. He's showing he can have an excellent future."

Barcelona fans are dreaming of a treble. How will you approach the match? "We’re excited because we've reached the Champions League semi-finals twice in the past three years - something which previously hadn’t happened in a long time. We’re doing some great work in this competition and can't wait to play."

Barcelona are the team that score the most goals in Europe. What do you think about that? "We know all about their attacking threat, and we need to do a great job defensively. This season, we’ve defended well, proving we are one of the best teams."

Inter are coming off a difficult period. Are the issues mental or physical? "These things can happen at this stage. Until now, we've been working well, with the exception of last week. We were used to winning, and it hurts to lose, but the team is in good shape and the group is united. We're ready to play this match."

What will you say in the changing room to fire up the team? "I’ll say that we need to stay compact - we have to stick together. We’re the first to suffer when we lose; we don’t accept it. We’ve had conversations among ourselves and said things that will stay in the changing room. My teammates all know we’ll be up against a top-class team."

15 years ago, Inter emerged victorious over two legs here in Barcelona despite having a man sent off, showing real determination and belief. Do you feel this Inter will have the same attitude? "Absolutely - those things must never be missing. Heart, grit and effort are always part of our game. Not every match unfolds the same way, but it’s crucial to always have those qualities. We’re ready and we’ve recharged, and now we need to prepare the final details and play our game with real character."

You’ve scored here in your last two appearances - what kind of player are you today? "I definitely now have a few more years under my belt, and I have an even greater desire to keep winning and playing in finals. I want to approach this semi-final the right way - we’re excited to be here."

As a leader, what gives you the most confidence heading into tomorrow? "I’ve seen how we’ve trained and how the group is doing. It's been tough to lose our last three matches. However, we’ve worked really well, and we’re eager to get back on the pitch and turn things around. Together with the staff, we’re working to give everything out on the pitch."

How important is it to have Thuram back? "Marcus is a crucial player, and I’m glad we’ve got him back. We don’t know the starting line-up yet, but it’s important that he’s available. He can really help us in this final stretch of the season."

Inter have seemed more focused in the Champions League than in other competitions. Is that really the case? "I don’t agree - we play to win in every competition. That’s our mentality: we’re at a prestigious club and we always have to aim to go all the way. Of course, the Champions League is very important, but maybe in the league we haven’t always been as focused as we should have."

You’re coming off five straight Champions League appearances with a goal, and tomorrow you’ll be up against fellow Ballon d'Or contenders. How does that feel? "Individual awards come from team effort - I always focus on doing my best for the team and bringing joy to our fans. Awards only arrive when there’s strong collective work behind them."