Vieri and Samuel defend Lautaro: ‘He’ll start scoring again’ | OneFootball

Former Inter stars Christian Vieri and Walter Samuel are far from worried by Lautaro Martinez’s recent scoring issues, as they both insisted that football is made of ‘moments’ and it’s just a matter of time before the Argentina international will start netting in bunches again.

The Nerazzurri captain broke a four-game scoring drought by finding the net in his side’s latest Serie A outing at Cagliari before a wasteful display in the Supercoppa Italiana semifinal against Atalanta put him in the spotlight for the wrong reason again.

But even if he’s nowhere near last season’s goal-scoring consistency, Vieri and Samuel highlighted how he keeps creating ‘plenty of opportunities’ in every game and contributing to his side’s offensive play with his fighting spirit.

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – JANUARY 02: Denzel Dumfries of FC Internazionale celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the Italian Super Cup Semi-Final match between FC Internazionale and Atalanta at Al Awwal Park on January 02, 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Abdullah Ahmed/Getty Images)

Vieri and Samuel: Lack of Lautaro goals not a problem for Inter

“Don’t make me laugh,” Vieri told Corriere della Sera in an interview when asked whether Lautaro is going through a crisis.

“First of all, he scored in Cagliari. Then, he creates three or four chances per game, like against Atalanta.

“There are periods when the ball just doesn’t want to go in, and there’s no real explanation for it. Besides, the other night Carnesecchi was phenomenal too.

Lautaro Martinez of Inter in action during the Serie A match between Cagliari and FC Internazionale at Sardegna Arena on December 28, 2024 in Cagliari, Italy. (Photo by Enrico Locci/Getty Images)

“The problem would exist if Lautaro wasn’t taking any shots on goal. But instead, he fights, plays well for the team, and creates plenty of opportunities. It just takes a moment, and it’s easy to imagine him scoring eight-nine goals in January alone.

He just needs to stay calm—he’s an extraordinary striker.”

Similar concepts were echoed by the Inter’s former defender and Lautaro’s compatriot, who stressed the striker’s moment is just ‘normal’ and doesn’t require any ‘specific explanations’.

“People talk about him a lot, too much even,” Samuel said in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport.

“If he misses one chance, it’s as if a disaster has happened. Luckily, the concern seems to come more from others than from him.

“He’s a fantastic guy—positive, generous, and always puts the team ahead of himself. Of course, scoring is important for a striker, and when it doesn’t happen, he might feel a bit down, but there’s absolutely no danger or alarm.

“The time to worry would be if Lautaro wasn’t taking shots, wasn’t in the right positions, or wasn’t creating threats. Instead, he’s generating chances and sacrificing himself for his teammates. He’s never selfish, and that’s important.

Lautaro Martinez of Argentina reacts as he leaves the pitch in a substitution during the South American FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier match between Argentina and Peru at Estadio Alberto J. Armando on November 19, 2024 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. (Photo by Marcelo Endelli/Getty Images)

“Maybe he didn’t have a classic preseason, but many players don’t, and they continue to play without stopping and perform well. There’s no need to look for specific explanations—it’s just normal.

“Life and football are made up of moments: this one will pass, and then the captain will start scoring again. We’re talking about a striker who takes care of his body and prepares for games down to the smallest details.”

With Thuram likely to miss the Supercoppa Italiana final through injury, Lautaro will be tasked to be his side’s main offensive threat, as he seeks to score his ninth goal against the Rossoneri.