Lautaro Martinez has revealed he "spent two days crying" after going off injured in the first leg of Inter's Champions League clash with Barcelona.
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Martinez injured in first leg'Spent two days crying'Miraculously recovered for second legFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Martinez strained his thigh during the first half of Inter's 3-3 draw with Barcelona at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys and had to be substituted during the break. He missed out on several training sessions in the days after, before making a surprise return to team activities on Monday and ultimately earning a start for the second leg of the semi-final tie at San Siro. Now he's opened up about the mental toll of the injury and the worry it caused his family.
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Martinez's rapid recovery in time for the second leg was labelled a 'miracle', and he proved crucial in helping defeat Hansi Flick's Barca side and secure passage into a second Champions League final in three years for Inter, scoring the opener and winning a penalty that put the Milan club two goals up at half time. Inter eventually won the game 4-3 after extra-time to win the tie 7-6 on aggregate.
WHAT MARTINEZ SAID
Martinez told : “I was struggling a bit—I couldn’t even lift my leg. I spent the first two days after the injury in Barcelona crying at home. I did double training sessions all week and tried to recover. A tight bandage and straight onto the field. That’s just how I am. In games like this, you have to be there. I cried with my wife and kids at home, but I promised them I'd play. Even my mom was worried – she called me all morning, but I didn't answer because she suffers so much."
AFPWHAT NEXT FOR INTER?
Martinez will now be desperate to prepare himself physically for a historic Champions League final against either Arsenal or PSG. The 2023-24 Serie A top scorer and title winner suffered a devastating defeat in the 2023 final versus Man City, and he'll be doing everything he can to avoid the same fate this year.
