Lautaro Martinez calls for Inter to change mentality after Roma comeback

Inter captain Lautaro Martinez says his side must reconsider their approach to the start of matches after they came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Roma in Serie A.

Inter fell behind twice in an entertaining match at the top end of the fifth round of the Italian league season, before recovering to take a point.

“We have to erase the first half against Roma because we did not begin with the right mentality,” Martinez told DAZN.

“We changed our mentality in the second half, but it becomes difficult when you give away an entire half in a match at this level.”

The Argentina forward also warned that Inter cannot continue to spend matches trying to recover the momentum they surrendered early on.

“We have to review the way we start matches. We cannot always continue running after the momentum,” he added.

The draw extended a repeated pattern for Inter, who have fallen two goals behind in each of their past four matches.

They won two of those games, lost to Real Madrid and drew with Roma.

It was also the sixth time since Cristian Chivu became Inter manager that the club had fallen two goals behind in a league match and avoided defeat.

The result further strengthened Roma manager Gian Piero Gasperini’s difficult record against the Nerazzurri. He has now failed to beat Inter in 18 consecutive matches, with 12 defeats and six draws.

Gasperini’s last victory over Inter came in 2018, when he was in charge of Atalanta and guided them to a 4-1 win.

Martinez’s goal also moved him into third place among Inter’s leading scorers in the Italian league, with 135 goals. He is now three goals behind second-placed Benito Lorenzi.

The draw left both Roma and Inter on 13 points, although Roma lead the standings on goal difference.