Matteo Gabbia has once again stressed his delight at being back at AC Milan and his desire to help the team with contributions on the field.
Gabbia joined Villarreal on a season-long loan that did not have an option to buy included, but it was terminated six months early as Milan pushed to bring him back.
With Pierre Kalulu, Malick Thiaw and Fikayo Tomori all going down in order with lengthy muscular issues, the centre-back department was decimated.
The situation got so bad that Theo Hernandez has moved infield from his preferred left-back role to play centrally, something he has done well but help was always needed from the market.
Gabbia spoke during an interview with Sky not long before kick-off in today’s game against Empoli at the Stadio Carlo Castellani, with his comments relayed by MilanNews.
On his return to Milan: “They were very beautiful days, I found my old team-mates again, even the new players welcomed me well. Now we’re playing, we’ll do our best.
“I was in Milan for the holidays. I tried to stay focused on Villarreal out of respect for the Spanish club, but I’m happy to be back. It’s a certificate of esteem, I’ll try to repay the club’s trust.”
On Milan’s current moment: “There have been many injuries, but I have seen positive things in recent days. The training sessions were done well, now we have to bring home the three points.”
Gabbia will not start the game as some sources predicted but has taken a spot on the bench with Theo-Kjaer the centre-back pairing chosen. He also spoke to Milan TV.
“My return? Very nice, I’m used to it, it wasn’t such a big change. I know what Milan is, to play for Milan and I will do my best like the whole team,” he said.
“My sensations are positive. I saw a concentrated team, now comes the most important part and we will try to give our best to collect the three points.
“The objective is to win maximum points at home and away. Playing at San Siro gives us something more, but many people follow us away and it is important for them to win too.”
