Gabbia reacts to Arsenal game and start of Dubai camp: “It’s making us struggle” | OneFootball

AC Milan defender Matteo Gabbia believes that this afternoon’s friendly against Arsenal in Dubai was a useful exercise in helping the squad ramp up preparations.

Milan have been in the United Arab Emirates since the weekend and have begun their warm weather winter training camp, which features friendly matches against Arsenal and Liverpool in what is being labelled as the Dubai Super Cup.

The first of those games took place today at the Al Maktoum Stadium, with the Gunners running out 2-1 winners thanks to first half goals from Martin Odegaard and Reiss Nelson, though Fikayo Tomori did halve the deficit and the Rossoneri had chances to at least get a draw.

Interviewed by Sky (via MilanNews) after the game, Gabbia – who started the game at centre-back alongside Tomori – commented on the match against Arsenal.

“An important test against a team of a high level, we know how to see the match, we will analyse it during these days in Dubai and we will see where we can improve to get to January 4th in the best possible condition,” he said.

On fitness: “We’re putting in significant work loads. We arrived at the match focused on doing well, putting the things the coach asked of us on the pitch, and now we’re going back to work to improve.”

On the group: “I think football is a team game, we play together. We’re doing it, there are changing situations. We’re coming from some more intense training, it’s making us struggle. These tests are used to improve those things, they’ll help us recovery.”

On the Scudetto: “We’re on the same lines as Ibra and Calabria: we have a goal. When everyone shares this dream, it’s easier to go further. We’ll need to start again well, then in the end we’ll see what the result is. We’ll put 110% into every game.”

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