Lautaro Martinez acknowledges Inter’s unwavering spirit as the driving force behind their Serie A triumph against Genoa.

Inter Milan faced challenges in breaking through against Genoa on Saturday, but they were determined to secure a win following last week’s disappointing defeat to Juventus, according to goalscorer Lautaro Martinez.

“It wasn’t the most exhilarating match, but we poured our hearts into it,” Martinez shared with DAZN after the 1-0 victory temporarily placed Inter at the top of Serie A.

This season has seen Martinez struggle to regain his previous goal-scoring prowess. The Argentine forward had consistently netted over 20 league goals in each of the last three seasons, and his effort against Genoa marked only his 10th goal of the current campaign.

Inter have recently found it tough, securing only one win in their last four matches—a stretch during which Martinez had not found the back of the net. Despite not delivering a stellar performance, they managed to secure the win against Genoa.

“The key was to get all three points after the painful loss to Juventus. We’re focused and standing strong. I’m thrilled for this victory, for my teammates, and for the fans,” Martinez stated.

The previous weekend’s 1-0 loss to Juventus had stirred controversy for Martinez, as he was accused by parts of the Italian media of making an inappropriate remark following the match.

“When someone speaks ill of you, it can be upsetting. I’ve indeed used harsh words, but I’ve never resorted to blasphemy,” he commented.

“I won’t accept such claims, but I’ll move forward. Those who know me understand the man and father I am.“

With their win over Genoa, Inter pulled one point ahead of Napoli, who will face Como on Sunday. The top two teams are set to clash next weekend, and Martinez was queried if Saturday’s result served as a warning to their title contenders.

“No, it’s more a message to ourselves that we’re still in the race following the loss to Juventus,” he replied.

“Missing chances can be part of the game; matches are often decided this way. We need to keep improving in this area.“