For the second consecutive championship match, Rafael Leao started from the bench. If against Udinese the exclusion from the starting eleven was the consequence of a disciplinary measure for what happened in Florence, yesterday’s exclusion is the result of what happened against Club Brugge with Okafor who as soon as he came in his place directed the Champions League match League allowing the Rossoneri to win their first victory in Europe.
However, the decision to confirm the Swiss did not prove to be the correct one. Without Leao, Milan on the right wing never created major problems and it is no coincidence that the Napoli captain only had a little more difficulty in the final half hour, with the entry of the Portuguese who in the 83rd minute with a flash of his people called Meret to the great intervention.
Beyond the technical choices, however, it appears increasingly clear that the feeling between Fonseca and Leao has not developed. Number 10 doesn’t like the way he is treated by his coach, like anyone else. I don’t agree too much with his requests, but above all with his attitude. On the other hand, Fonseca doesn’t see the right approach in his number 10. Too anarchic, not a team man. Yesterday Fonseca spoke about self-denial, he said that no one should pray. Then he specified that he was not referring to Leao, but he was referring exactly to Leao.
How to get out of it? It’s hard to say from the outside. It is certainly Milan that pays the price, as underlined this morning also by Serse Cosmi: For me everything passes through the recovery of Leao: if Milan recovers him they will really be able to do something important, otherwise they will hardly be able to go beyond the Champions League placing “.
Rafael Leao’s performance since he wore the Milan shirt
Serie A 2024/25 – One goal in the first nine matchdays
Serie A 2023/24 – Three goals in the first 9 matchdays
Serie A 2022/23 – Four goals in the first 9 matchdays (one match missed due to suspension)
Serie A 2021/22 – Four goals in the first 9 matchdays
Serie A 2020/21 – Two goals in the first 9 matchdays (missed three, two due to injury)
Serie A 2019/20 – One goal in the first 9 matchdays (twice he started from the bench)