Matteo Gabbia firmly believes that Theo Hernandez didn’t need to apologise to his Milan teammates after his costly red card in the Champions League play-off. “Theo has all our support,” he insisted.
The Rossoneri are still reeling from their unexpected exit in the Champions League play-off against Feyenoord. They had lost the first leg 1-0, and Theo Hernandez’s red card in the decisive match only added to their disappointment.
“It wasn’t easy, but we talked it through and understood that the only way forward right now is to work hard and give our best,” Gabbia told MilanNews.it at an event. “There’s a long season ahead of us. We’re still in Serie A and the Coppa Italia, so we have goals to chase and a moral responsibility to give our all for ourselves and our fans.”
In the wake of his red card, Theo Hernandez publicly apologised, but did he express his regrets to the team privately as well?
“Yes, right after the game, he apologised to the squad. Personally, I don’t think he needed to,” Gabbia explained. “I know how much Theo cares about Milan, the fans, and everything related to this club. He was truly down about it. He’s a champion, and while he had a rough day, he’s had so many great ones that have helped us win games and trophies.”
“He’s fully supported by the team. He knows he made a mistake, but there’s nothing more to say. Theo has Milan in his heart, and he will undoubtedly show that in the future.”
When asked about the need for greater consistency, as pointed out by both Sergio Conceicao and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Gabbia acknowledged that the team is still figuring things out.
“The coach is very clear with us about what needs to be improved. Zlatan, and the club, have always supported us through both good and bad moments. Zlatan spoke to us, but I can’t share what he said in the locker room because those conversations should stay private,” Gabbia concluded. “I just want to emphasise that the club is always behind us, no matter the situation.”
With Milan, Juventus, and Atalanta all eliminated from the Champions League play-offs, leaving only Inter as Italy’s representative, Serie A risks losing its fifth Champions League spot for next season. As a result, the battle for the top four will be fierce, with Milan among the clubs fighting for qualification.
