Gabbia off in tears: the darkest moment of the evening
In the middle of an already difficult evening, Matteo Gabbia experienced the hardest moment of his season. The Rossoneri central defender left the pitch during Milan vs Sassuolo visibly shaken, hands on his face and eyes welling up, clearly aware — within seconds of the challenge — of the potential seriousness of what had just happened. A scene that touched the hearts of every Milan supporter.
How it happened: pure bad luck
The injury did not result from a particularly heavy tackle by an opponent: Gabbia hurt himself during a sliding challenge, one of those situations that belongs to the unpredictable side of football. How many defenders make the same kind of challenge without consequences? This time, unfortunately, it went wrong.
Rúben Amorim expressed genuine regret at his post-match press conference, stressing how much Gabbia’s absence will affect the squad’s balance. In-depth medical tests, scheduled between Monday and Tuesday, will provide a clearer picture. Reports, however, point to a possible tendon involvement, which could require surgery and result in a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
A defence running increasingly thin
The news comes at a particularly sensitive time for Milan’s backline. With Gabbia potentially sidelined for several months, the defensive picture at the club narrows considerably. Adding to the already confirmed absence of Pervis Estupiñán and the imminent surgery facing Alexis Saelemaekers, expected to be out for 3–4 months, Amorim’s room for manoeuvre is significantly reduced.
In the central defensive role, within the three-man system trialled in the second half against Sassuolo (3-4-2-1), the options remaining are Strahinja Pavlović, Koni De Winter and Fikayo Tomori, the latter back in the fold after the transfer window but yet to make a competitive appearance this season. Davide Bartesaghi can cover the left side of a back three, but his natural position remains that of a left-back. Resources, right now, are limited.
Get well soon, Matteo
Beyond the tactical assessments and potential transfer strategies that may emerge in the coming weeks, the most important wish is a human one: that Matteo Gabbia can recover fully and return to the Serie A pitch as soon as possible, wearing the Rossoneri shirt. His professionalism, the dedication he has shown from day one in this jersey and the quality he has displayed on the pitch make him a precious asset to the Milanello group.
The club’s official communications in the coming days will provide a definitive timeline for his recovery. All of Milanello and the entire Rossoneri world stands with him.
