Matteo Gabbia’s winning goal against Inter on Sunday night has been compared to Mark Hateley’s 40 years ago, and the striker sent a message to the new derby hero.
As La Gazzetta dello Sport report, the ‘M-Attila Gabbia’ pun has taken off and it is the bridge between the fathers and the children who support Milan. Gabbia scored the winner in the derby against Inter by jumping and beating Frattesi in the air, in a gesture similar to that of Hateley.
He was known to all as ‘Attila’ and he jumped over Fulvio Collovati in the 1984 derby. It was the same final result, the same context and the same feeling of liberation because Milan were suffering that time too, having not won against Inter for almost six years.
In addition, Collovati was among the great enemies of the Milan fans for having betrayed after them after relegation and Frattesi is among those that the Curva Sud do not like. Hateley’s was a legendary, epic goal, perhaps the most iconic in the history of Milan, and there are fans who have tattoos to mark it.
Hateley sent a message to Gabbia through the Gazzetta: “I am very proud of the derby victory and the great header. Great execution!” The comparison is obvious, but Hateley prefers to avoid it: “It always embarrasses me when a goal like that is compared to mine, better to avoid comparisons.”
Then, ‘Attila’ wanted to reiterate that he still watched the Rossoneri when he can and that he remains attached to the club, just as the fans remember him: “Of course, I will always be a Milan fan, I will always have Milan in my heart.”
Hateley arrived at Milan in the summer of 1984, at a time when the Serie A teams had Maradona, Platini, Zico, Socrates. He started well but then had ups and downs, limited by injuries, then he had that moment in the derby.
Of that goal, he said: “I saw the ball coming and I threw myself, jumping as high as possible.” Later, he added: “I have two large photos of that goal on my wall at home, one in black and white and one in colour.” Someone check if there is an order in the copy shops in Milan under the name Gabbia.
