GdS: Rearguard leader to rarely-used sub – why Gabbia is playing less under Amorim

Matteo Gabbia was one of the leaders of the AC Milan defence last season, but Ruben Amorim has not used him so far.

La Gazzetta dello Sport begin by pointing out that the ankle inflammation has been insidious and problematic, one of those annoying ailments that doesn’t require crutches but prevents you from training as you should.

It persisted for a few weeks, having its roots in the middle of the summer. Then, medically speaking, it resolved itself. The athletic after-effects still remain, and this is one of the reasons why Gabbia has been a minor player until now.

He disappeared from the radar, taking with him an important status: partly because he was the team’s vice-captain, and partly because until last season he was a key figure in the team.

Gabbia vanishes

The current numbers show that he’s been on the pitch for just 17 minutes, on two separate occasions, both obviously as a substitute (14 minutes against Torino, three against Venezia). Then, he missed the Juventus game due to ankle pain, and spent the other three games as an unused substitute.

Central defenders, as is well known, rotate less than other positions as those positions require consistency, teamwork, and practice, especially when there’s a change of coach. Matteo, quite simply, has been bumped down the pecking order.

It’s striking because it’s a situation he’s never experienced at Milan since his return (six months early) from Villarreal. For example, last season he was the seventh-most minutes-played player on the squad (31 appearances, 29 of them as a starter). The year before that, he had played 35 games.

What happens now? Koni De Winter is currently the starting middle centre-back, having been relocated by Amorim. While the Belgian was an option on the right centre-back under Allegri, he’s now considered a central pivot because he is a bit quicker and suits the higher line.

The second half of October – with an excessive number of matches packed into a few days – should give Gabbia some minutes. It’s worth remembering that he’s not only a reliable defender, but also one of the few elements of continuity in a Rossoneri world that’s been turned upside down repeatedly.