Unity key in Inter’s march to Champions League final – Lautaro Martinez

Lautaro Martinez sealed Inter Milan’s passage into the Champions League final after tapping into the spirit of Argentina’s World Cup triumph.

Either Manchester City or Real Madrid, who meet on Wednesday night, await in Istanbul on 10 June after Inter completed a 3-0 aggregate win over AC Milan at the San Siro.

Argentina striker Martinez struck the only goal of a scrappy second leg and was the most dangerous player on the pitch as Inter stayed in the chase for their fourth European crown.

“There was a lot of history in this game. We did a great job in both matches. The key was the group,” Martinez told Sky Italia.

“I had a similar experience at the World Cup – if you are united, you get to play these very important matches in the best possible way.

“Every time I take to the pitch I try to give my best in order to help my team-mates. We knew we had this opportunity to reach the Champions League final and today we completed our job.”

AC Milan started with urgency as they looked to overturn the 2-0 deficit from the first leg and had Brahim Diaz converted an early chance they might have turned the tie on its head.

But they soon ran out ideas and once Rafael Leao had pulled a shot across the face of goal just before half-time, they failed to threaten again.

It is the first time Inter have progressed from a knockout tie against their city rivals in the competition, with Milan coming out on top both in the 2002-03 semi-finals and the 2004-05 quarters.

It is also the first time in almost 50 years that Milan have lost to Inter four times in a single campaign, the only other time being in 1973-74. And never before in their history had they gone four games in a row without finding the net against Inter.

“The players gave their all in both legs. Inter deserved to win and we congratulate them,” Milan coach Stefano Pioli told Sky Sports.

“It’s clear that we dreamed of the final and wanted to beat our rivals.

“Not succeeding causes us disappointment, but we’ll have to focus on the championship. The real disappointment would be not playing in the Champions League next year.”

Milan, who have won only two in their last seven Serie A games, risk dropping out of Europe’s elite club competition next season as they currently sit four points off the top four.