AC Milan's Italian centre-back, Matteo Gabbia, has spoken to the media today in a press conference ahead of the match against Red Star Belgrade which is set to take place at the San Siro tomorrow.
How do you see tomorrow’s match?
“We want to win, and we will not underestimate our opponent. We have prepared well and want to bring home all three points.”
Is the Champions League an opportunity for redemption after the league defeat?
“The Champions League shouldn’t be a lifeline for the league. Right now, we’re focused on winning tomorrow, and then we’ll think about Genoa.”
Do you still feel like a leader of this Milan? Do you dream of wearing the captain’s armband? Gabbia replied:
“I’m happy with what I’m doing. My goal is to bring my qualities to the pitch. The captain’s armband? It’s not appropriate to talk about it now. Other players are wearing it, and it wouldn’t be respectful to discuss it. It’s a dream of mine, but I don’t think about it much. If it comes one day, I’ll be happy, but it’s not something on my mind right now.”
Is Milan too soft? Gabbia commented:
“We need to improve; the coach tells us that too. In certain situations, we have to stop the play earlier. We’re a team that plays as a unit, so since we don’t mark man-to-man, we’re not forced to make individual challenges.”
What can you say about your defensive phase?
“It’s a process we’re going through to improve our defensive work, not just when we don’t have the ball but also when we do. We make mistakes, but with the coach and his staff, we’re more organized on the pitch and know what we need to do. The defensive phase is improving and will continue to get better.”
How did the team react after Bergamo? Gabbia said:
“When the team doesn’t win, we’re angry. In the locker room, there’s a desire to overcome this challenging moment in the league. No one is satisfied with the points we’ve collected so far. We’re not complacent; losing bothers us.”
Tomorrow Milan celebrates its 125th anniversary…
“It’s a historic moment for the club. Sunday will be a special day, and we must always make the fans proud. Our objective doesn’t change; the club’s 125th anniversary should only serve as extra motivation. We must give our all as always.”
Champions League or league? Gabbia replied:
“We need to give our best in both competitions. Playing in the Champions League is a dream; it’s a beautiful competition to play in, but that doesn’t mean we’re putting the league aside.”
