Gila avoids serious injury, Milan look ahead to Lazio with defensive concerns

Juventus Stadium witnessed a night when AC Milan dropped a victory in the 90+2nd minute, but the biggest concern for the visitors was not the conceded goal. Mario Gila left the pitch in the 88th minute due to discomfort in his patellar tendon. Minutes later, Juventus equalised, forcing Milan to leave Turin with one point and plenty of regret. This morning at Milanello, the picture looked brighter: Gila trained normally, required no clinical tests, and is likely to be ready for the trip to Lazio. Initial reports suggest the Spanish centre-back has no significant muscle problem. He completed the recovery session alongside the starters from the Juventus match. The decision not to run deeper medical tests says a lot. It is the best possible news for coach Ruben Amorim, especially with Matteo Gabbia still sidelined. Gila told DAZN: “I still haven’t managed to finish matches and that disappoints me. Today I felt some discomfort in the patellar tendon, but the draw is not to be thrown away.” That sentence sums up a notable pattern. Gila has repeatedly failed to complete 90 minutes recently, not because the coach wanted to rotate, but because his body sent a signal to stop. The patellar tendon absorbs huge force during jumping, sudden braking, and changes of direction. For a centre-back operating at high intensity, that area is always a risk. The fact that Gila did not undergo clinical tests might surprise some, but Milan’s medical staff did not take the situation lightly. He was examined on the pitch and monitored overnight. When doctors ruled out muscle or ligament damage, they allowed the player to recover through an individual programme. This approach helps Milan avoid turning a minor pain into a long-term injury. However, there is a blind spot. Gila is a former Lazio player, and Milan will face Lazio at Olimpico this weekend. A centre-back who is not at full fitness when playing against his former club is always a risk. Amorim must decide whether to start Gila or keep him on the bench for a more suitable moment. In that context, Gabbia’s progress offers another option. Matteo Gabbia has started running on the pitch, a clear step forward compared to last week. He cannot train with the group yet, but running without pain is a positive sign. Milan will assess him day by day and will not take unnecessary risks. Looking back at the Juventus match, Milan did not collapse after losing Gila, but their defence became more fragile in the final minutes. Terracciano replaced Gila in the 88th minute, right before Juventus pushed forward in search of an equaliser. The late aerial ball punished Milan. It would be unfair to blame Terracciano for the goal, but changing a centre-back at the most tense moment always carries risk. The 90+2-minute goal was not only a defensive issue. Milan showed they could stand firm against Juventus for most of the game but lacked the concentration needed to protect their lead. Amorim’s team must improve their aerial duels and control the tempo of injury time. Such small details often decide championships. Gila’s case brings another perspective on Milan’s fitness management. A player asking to leave the pitch because of discomfort is normal, but if it happens repeatedly, the coaching staff should question the training load. Gila is not the type of player to complain. His decision to come off in an important match shows he understands his limits and does not want to leave the team without a key defender for a longer period. Milan are entering the decisive phase of the season with an incomplete squad. Consecutive injuries mean the team is rarely at full strength. But top-level football does not always go to the team with fewer injuries; it goes to the team that handles injuries smarter. Letting Gila rest at the right time, allowing Gabbia to recover gradually, and not pushing key players into overload is how Milan are saving themselves. This weekend, when he steps onto the Olimpico pitch, Gila will face old memories. He played for Lazio before moving to Milan. The stands that once supported him will no longer be on his side. The only thing Gila can do is prove he is fully healthy and ready to fight. Above all, he must listen to his body, because if the patellar tendon speaks again, every tactical decision made by Amorim becomes meaningless. Football sometimes does not require major surgery. It requires small decisions made at the right time: taking Gila off in the 88th minute, letting him train lightly, and not turning a minor pain into a major fracture. That is modern football, where the medical room matters as much as the dressing room. Milan left Turin with one point, but they left with a centre-back still intact. For a club fighting in an important race, that is the most valuable thing. Gila will return, not in the starting lineup, but in the peace of mind of those who worried about him all night. And at Olimpico, if he steps on the pitch, people will not ask whether he has recovered. They will ask whether that match is the first time he faces his past without having to leave early.