Referee Marco Serra reveals what Zlatan Ibrahimovic told him after Milan–Spezia and says he appreciated the support from Rossoneri players.
Serra cancelled out a late Junior Messias goal in Milan-Spezia last month. The 39-year-old didn’t play the advantage, giving a free kick from the edge of the box to the Rossoneri.
The problem was that he had blown his whistle just one second before Messias found the next with a curler.
On top of that, Spezia took all three points from their trip to Milan thanks to an Emmanuel Gyasi goal in the stoppages.
There were reports that AIA apologised to Milan after the match. Surely, Serra offered his apology to Milan players and staff and many Rossoneri players tried to cheer him up after the final whistle.
Serra has confirmed that some Milan players talked to him inside the dressing room after the final whistle.
“I appreciated what they did the following day. At that moment, my emotional state wouldn’t let me,” the 39-year-old told Sky Sport Italia.
“Calabria, as a captain, told me words of comfort. Florenzi was heartbroken like me, then Theo and Diaz passed by. They told me to cheer up and react because everyone can make mistakes.
“Ibra spoke to me as well, the core of his speech was ‘Now prove to be strong and react’. Now, I am looking forward to returning on the pitch.”