1 week ago
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Matteo Gabbia has shed some light on his feelings before, during and after Sunday night’s Derby della Madonnina win over Inter.
It was another textbook ‘Allegrismo’ performance from Milan as they beat their city rivals 1-0, with Christian Pulisic scoring the only goal in the second half. There was plenty of drama though, from elbows and hair-pulling to Mike Maignan saving a Hakan Calhanoglu penalty.
The cameras picked up something that Gabbia said in the tunnel before the game as he told his team-mates to enjoy the game and the occasion above all. Those kind of calming words are exactly what is showing the boyhood Milan fan and academy graduate to be a real leader within the squad.
After speaking to Sky Italia on Wednesday, Gabbia was a guest on Cronache di Spogliatoio. He discussed the big derby win, recalling some of the most memorable moments, with MilanPress relaying his comments.
You said ‘let’s enjoy this match’ in the tunnel. Why?
“What I said is honestly what I thought before the match, because playing in a derby is always something special. I think we’re a team with excellent qualities, who work well together and always want to improve, so I think we had everything we needed to beat a very strong opponent.
“I was happy with how it went. We realised we’d done it at the end of the game, because when the referee blows the whistle, you realise you’ll have a great night and that you’ve made a lot of people happy.”
What is it like in the city after a derby win?
“It’s always nice to win such an important match, and afterward, it’s always nice to spend time with people you love and care about. I did just that.
“I want to reiterate that Inter are a strong team, made up of excellent players, and therefore requires maximum concentration until the end, without ever thinking we’ve made it before the end.
“Now we have to focus on Saturday night because it’s the most important match in trying to experience more wonderful and peaceful days after Lazio.”
English (US) ·