Matteo Gabbia confirmed that Theo Hernandez apologised to his AC Milan team-mates, revealing what happened after the Feyenoord game.
To say that it has been a whirlwind last 48 hours for Milan would be a real understatement, and it all started with the elimination from the Champions League against Feyenoord on Tuesday night.
The major incident in that game was Theo’s red card and it has led to suggestions that his time at Milan will end in the summer. Meanwhile, there has been speculation about the future of head coach Sergio Conceicao and several other players too.
A report from La Repubblica even spoke of tension between Conceicao and Christian Pulisic, but this was stamped out by a statement that the American winger put out through the club’s channels.
Gabbia attended the presentation of the 20th Amici dei Bambini Tournament and he spoke to a reporter from MilanNews to answer questions on a number of topics.
Tuesday night did not go to plan…
“The last evening in the Champions League was not easy. We spoke to each other, we discussed and we understood that the only way at this moment is to work, to give our best in what we do. The season is still long: there is the league, there is the Coppa Italia, we have goals.
“We have the moral obligation to give everything for ourselves and for the fans who always follow us. Consequently we must try to reach them, to do our best. We aim to do this.”
Why are Milan so inconsistent?
“We certainly know that our season cannot make us satisfied because there were moments in which we played good games but we were not always able to have the continuity that was necessary.
“We talked among ourselves, we said things that remain between us, they are discussions that must remain in our dressing room, with the coach and with the staff. We must try to do the best we can for the season in the most fair way and for the fans.”
Did Theo apologise for his bad night?
“Yes, absolutely yes. Immediately after the match he apologised to the group. From my point of view he shouldn’t have done it, but I’ve known him for many years now: I know how much he cares about this shirt, about Milan, about the fans, about everything that is the Milan world.
“As a result he wasn’t happy, he was disappointed, he was down in spirits. He is our asset, he is our champion, we know he had a bad night, but as he has had in the past he will have many other positive nights that will make us win points and trophies.
“All our support is with Theo, on making him feel good, on making him understand that he made a mistake on an occasion that was important but there is nothing more to add. He has Milan in his heart and he will certainly show it.”
How did you manage to beat Inter twice and then have difficulties against objectively weaker teams, such as Dinamo Zagreb and Feyenoord?
“I think that many games that you consider easier have their difficulties, sometimes it also depends a lot on us. It is right that we also look in the mirror and take our responsibilities. Myself first of all for example in Zagreb.
“It is normal that many games are difficult, that the result cannot always be excellent. It is normal that in a season there are highs and lows, our goal is to do the best possible so that there are more highs than lows.”
When Conceiçao says there is an ‘environment to change’ what is he referring to? Also to dynamics within the dressing room?
“No, I don’t think so. He’s very honest with us about what we need to improve on, he told us when he arrived and he continues to tell us today. You have to ask him about the statements the coach makes, I know what the coach wants from us and we try to follow him at all times.”
Did you speak with Ibrahimovic after the defeat?
“Zlatan, like the club, is always by our side. Both when things are going well and when things are going badly, they are there and they talk to us, they make us understand their point of view. In this case, Zlatan spoke to us and obviously I can’t tell you what he told us.
“There are things that are right to remain between us. I just wanted to make you understand that the club’s support is always there, both in good times and bad.”
