Samuel Mbangula surprised AC Milan fans with a hat-trick that brought to mind the legend of Gabriel Batistuta. The young striker scored three goals in the 3-1 victory against Bologna, proving to be the new offensive point of reference for the Rossoneri team. According to Opta statistics, an entire thirty years have passed since an AC Milan opponent scored a hat-trick at home: the last case dates back to 26 September 1998, when Batistuta, in a match against Fiorentina, scored three goals for the opposing team.
The result was greeted with enthusiasm by coach Raffaele Palladino, who praised Mbangula's performance and highlighted his team spirit. "I liked Mbangula's attitude and spirit. Now we can say that he has scored a hat-trick. I am happy with him and the team," Palladino said during the press conference. The coach also highlighted the versatility of the youngster, who also contributed to the defense in the final minutes of the match, proving to be a complete player. “I left Mbangula on the pitch until the end, then I changed by inserting Cambiaghi, who has more strength to defend and restart,” he added.
Despite the victory, Palladino reiterated that Milan cannot afford to slow down. "We are all happy and satisfied with this victory, but winning here is nice, we didn't do anything. They are only three points that give us morale and we must immediately think about the match against Monza, which is the most important for us", he underlined. The coach asked the players to maintain concentration and not take the result obtained for granted.
Mbangula, who has already proven to be a key element of Milan, confirmed his determination to continue giving his all for the team. His hat-trick not only led the club to a positive result, but also re-established a historic record that had remained dormant for twenty-eight years. With the season still ongoing, Milan will need to capitalize on Mbangula's form and the group's motivation to continue competing in Serie A and European competitions. The next match against Monza will be crucial to consolidate the club's position in the league table and to demonstrate that the team is ready to fight for the most important points.