Inter Milan Assistant Coach On Lautaro Martinez Being Fit For UCL Barcelona Clash: ‘Today It’s More A No Than Yes” | OneFootball

Massimiliano Farris says at the moment it’s “more no than yes” that Lautaro Martinez will be fit for Inter Milan against Barcelona.

The Inter assistant coach spoke to Italian broadcaster Sky Sport Italia, via FCInterNews, after this evening’s Serie A win over Hellas Verona.

Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martinez is the major fitness doubt for the Nerazzurri ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League semifinal second leg against Barcelona.

Martinez started the first leg this past Wednesday. However, he had to come off the pitch at halftime.

Medical tests revealed that the Argentine had suffered “elongation” in his left thigh flexors. However, he has not suffered a serious muscle injury.

Therefore, it is hardly out of the question that Martinez could return for the second leg.

Nevertheless, Martinez only has a few days in which to recover. Therefore, the timeline will certainly be tight.

Farris: “Today More No Than Yes” That Lautaro Is Fit For Inter Milan Vs Barcelona Second Leg

MILAN, ITALY – APRIL 16: Lautaro Martinez of FC Internazionale celebrates after scoring their team’s first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Quarter Final Second Leg match between FC Internazionale Milano and FC Bayern München at San Siro on April 16, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Lautaro Martinez played no part against Hellas Verona this evening. That was always a given.

However, the Argentine’s status for Inter’s next match is still up in the air.

But Nerazzurri assistant coach Massimiliano Farris stated that “I can’t give you a percentage” as far as how likely it is that Martinez will return for the second leg against Barcelona.

“It’s true that it’s not an injury,” he went on. “So there’s some hope.”

“But at the moment it’s more no than yes,” Farris added.

“Because the player hasn’t been in training.”

“We’ll do everything we can,” the Inter assistant coach stated. “But for now, it’s more no than yes.”

Meanwhile, Farris gave his thoughts on the tie against Barcelona. “In Barcelona, we went to try and play our game.”

“We recognized some problems with the defensive phase of one of the strongest teams in the world.”

“Then, they were very good. They were great in possession, and they crushed us in certain situations.”

“We’ll have to work on that,” added the Inter assistant coach.

“But competing for a place in the Champions League final against Barcelona is a source of great pride.”

Farris Praises Rotated Inter Side’s Performance Vs Hellas Verona

UDINE, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 18: Massimiliano Farris of FC Interazionale looks on during the Serie A match between Udinese Calcio and FC Internazionale at Dacia Arena on September 18, 2022 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Farris also gave his thoughts on the team’s performance against Verona this evening.

It was a heavily rotated starting lineup. There were a whopping ten changes to the team that had faced Barcelona in midweek.

Inter assistant coach Farris said that he saw “intensity, concentration, and a desire to play our game.”

“We knew that Verona would play a cautious match. It wouldn’t be easy fin find space.”

“Then maybe in the second half as they started to open up, we should have been quicker in certain situations,” Farris added.

“But we didn’t risk anything. It’s not so much about a ‘B team,’ but about having a lot of players out there who haven’t played together much.”

“But the guys know that they have to play these matches,” said the Inter assistant coach.

Farris On Inter Defensive Strategy Vs Lamine Yamal: “We’ll Come Up With Something New”

BARCELONA, SPAIN – APRIL 30: Lamine Yamal of FC Barcelona celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Semi Final First Leg match between FC Barcelona and FC Internazionale Milano at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on April 30, 2025 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Inter assistant coach Farris also spoke about how his team will try and contain Barcelona danger man Lamine Yamal in Tuesday’s second leg.

“We’ll come up with something new,” he said. “We’re reviewing the match.”

“Everyone will bring an idea,” the coach added. “We’ll talk with Simone [Inzaghi] and see what to do.”

“It has to be said that he had moments of superior quality,” Farris said of Yamal in the first leg against Inter. “Maybe he won’t be able to have the same kind of match.”

“Of course, we can’t say that we left too much space for him. He’s someone who can find it when there isn’t any.”

Farris called Yamal “the future of world football.” However, he cautioned that “we’ll come up with something to apply more pressure.”