Rafael Leao’s recovery from the calf injury he sustained against Bari during the Coppa Italia match is proceeding well, a report claims.
MilanNews recall that Leao opened that game with a headed goal, but was forced off moments later after feeling some discomfort in his calf. While not too serious an issue, it has caused him to miss the first two Serie A games of the season.
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The Portuguese striker continued his personalised program on Wednesday, showing encouraging signs regarding his recovery. He is expected to return to the squad next week to be available to Massimiliano Allegri for the match against Bologna.
The Milan coach is counting heavily on Leao and will build the new Milan attack around him, with the Portuguese set to be central to the team’s attacking structure. In the preseason matches, for example, he started up front alongside Christian Pulisic in a 3-5-2 system.
A two-man partnership with Christopher Nkunku is also being explored, as well as a potential role evolution, with him becoming a centre-forward. These strategies are being evaluated at Milanello, but the most important news is that Leao’s return is increasingly imminent.
at the expense of who? Pulisic?
If they bench Pulisic for this dude that would be wild. I would assume if they keep the 352 puli would play in RLC’s role if not they could switch to a 433 or 4321. The latter having nkunku and puli behind leao up top. Nkunku as pulisics backup makes sense. Benching pulisic would be beyond wild actually.
Depends on how Nkunku finds his form probably. Leao is clearly the best and Gimenez the last option, Pulisic and Nkunku battle it out for 2nd attack spot but will probably play every match either as starter or sub.
Rabiot will probably play the box-crusher/target player role with how strong in attack he is. Unless that goes to RLC and Rabiot plays one position more defensively. But I think it is safe to say that Modric and Rabiot will always take 2 of the 3 midfield spots, and they are also clearly the 2 best midfielders we have.
What exactly makes Leao “clearly the best”?
Pulisic over the past 2 seasons has more goals and assists than Leao, and does quite a bit more in terms of tracking back and helping out defensively.
Which is purely a form question, a Leao who didn’t have a good season can still somewhat keep up with Pulisic in great form – that tells you everything.
Leao is just superior and this is also one thing the whole club seems to agree on.
Doesn´t mean that Pulisic is a bad player, still one of the best in the league, but Leao is on another level.
It’s not the past season. It’s the past 2 seasons. That’s a long period to blame on form…
This is not a video game, it’s not all about athletic ability and speed. Production matters, football IQ matters. Not knocking Leao, he could and should be one of the best in the world, but could’ve and should’ve doesn’t mean much.
He’s not on another level than anybody right now.
yes no question Leao has the higher ceiling. But, if he’s not getting there and Pulisic has then what’s the point. Hope I guess.
Agree… Just a small correction Leao is on another level when he is on top form…
“Allegri thinking” is going to be the big problem.
Like him thinking Modric is a Deep Lying Midfielder, even tho he’s never played there in his career. I guess every coach up to now has been playing him out of position.
Now he’s going to probably bench our best player over the last 2 seasons. And I thought it couldn’t get worse than Conceicao…
“Like him thinking Modric is a Deep Lying Midfielder, even tho he’s never played there in his career. I guess every coach up to now has been playing him out of position.”
LOL. Do you know what happened to Andrea Pirlo when Ancelotti decided to play him “out of position”? Google him if you’re not familiar. 😛
What on earth does that have to do with anything? ” Hey, just go see what a completely different coach did with a completely different player…”
Good lord, this is the dumbest comment section in the history of the internet.
You failing to connect the dots tells A LOT about your IQ. 😀 😀 😀 😀
I’ve been saying this all a long. Pulisic does not fit the 3-5-2. ACM should have sold Pulisic and kept Chuck as the backup. Pulisic’s value for sale is just going to decrease like what happened at CFC.
I don’t understand why Pulisic didn’t push for an exit when Allegri was named. All you have to do is look at his time at Juve to see what he would bring to Milan. I’ve felt that there was a high likelihood he would be shunted to the bench like he was by Tuchel. Those saying he’ll take RLC’s place aren’t thinking like Allegri. The Lecce game was the perfect example of why he values a guy like RLC. Goals from set pieces are important in Allegri-ball. RLC will give you that, Puli won’t.
Exactly. I think he didn’t push for a transfer because of the WC.
You may be right about that. Not sure it was the right strategy, though.
He was smart enough not to sign a new deal until he saw what the new coach’s plans were going to be. I have to give him credit for that. I have a feeling Allegri is going to try and use him as a wingback which is idiotic, but then it appears so is Allegri.
If they want to get all those guys on the field at the same time might have to go back to Pioli’s 4-2-3-1
Maignan
Tomori Gabbia Pav Estup
Rabiot Fofana
Puli Luka Rafa / Nkunku
Nkunku / Rafa / Santi
Not ideal with the current roster at CB but the double pivot should give them some cover with Fofana playing deepest.
Problem Pioli’s last year was getting overrun in midfield. AND Theo was shot. That shouldn’t be as much of a problem with this group.
He made Theo and Calabria play inverted, more central, that was is mistake. Theo needs space to drive up and being wide gives him a few more strides to pick up more pace. It was poor strategy.
Well he won the scudetto, so…..
4231 – de winter Tomori gabia estupiñan Ricci/jashari/fofana modric
Puli nkunku Rafa
Santi
With the possible switch to a 433 in game where more midfield control is needed.
I don’t like the 3 man back line Milan don’t have the right cb’s
But maybe something like 3421
Any three of the cbs
Salad Ricci Jashari/fofana estup
Puli/nkunku Rafa/RLC
Santi/nkunku
What if … I know it is crazy … but the players making millions per year were able to play a fluid attack?
What if our base defense is 541 with our first look a counter attack.
Rafa or Nkuku as the 9 up top is a nightmare for every defense. With both on the field a defense is unable to specifically mark any individual out.
Now what if moving forward Puli moves left or right depending on the ball and the players with him?
What if Puli covers space behind (like a 10) while RLC move up like an SS based on the scouting report on defenders and shape of the opponent.
What if our counter attack is so fluid it simply confuses defenses?
In possession why can we not see use move from base 541 in defense towards 4231 BUT the 9 in this case changes from Leao to Nkunku to Puli to RLC based on what they are seeing and comms on the field b/t the players?
Now consider all this and the brilliance that is Modric and energy that is Saele. MOdric reads and picks the passes. Saele bombs forward when one of the others needs a breather causing further chaos for the defense.
The channels will be huge. We just need to get Fofana off the field so that Ricci can pick passes with Modric.
What if this isn’t Sunday league and players can mix and match on the fly? Allegri is known for defense and he is also known for allowing freedom going forward.
I, for one, am keen to see a more fluid and organic attack (as opposed to the programed movements of Pep) .
3412 if you want all these goal scorers on the pitch. Pulisic plays the 10 behind both Leão and Nkunku. Behind Pulisic is Rabiot and Modrić. The wings are Pervis and Saelemaekers and the back three is your choice. Defensively leaky so Allegri won’t do it. More
Correct. The defense would be too leaky. I haven’t watched Nkunku play for a bit, but I seem to remember that he would put in at least some work on defense. I think the only option for the three of them to play together is a 3-4-2-1 or 4-2-3-1 with Leao as the 9. Allegri won’t field more than one guy that won’t work on defense and Leao is that guy.
Thanks for your service Christian! Best attacker of the last two seasons to the bench, because we hired a 3-5-2 manager instead of a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 manager. Oh well. Also, get ready for a Leao sale in 2026, with Chiesa (another Allegri old boy) brought in to replace him. The latter has just been left off of Liverpool’s CL squad, so the clock is ticking faster.
Leao’s best season was 16 goals and 14 assists, please someone tell me how he is soooo much better than Pulisic…everyone is looking at him with kaka tinted glasses. He isn’t Kaka, he isn’t Henry, he is his own person and he doesn’t seem like the guy that will hit 30 goals. I want him to hit 30 but to say he’s leagues ahead of Pulisic and who cares about Pulisic is outrageous. You saw puli come in and in under 5 minutes force a goal yea? Who has been hurting inter the most in the last 3 seasons? Puli. Just because Puli doesn’t look like a crazy athlete I think plays with peoples minds. Messi didn’t look like much either but if everyone was like screw Messi it’s all about Dinho’ history would have been very different. Not saying puli is on Messi’s level but Leao aint on Dinho’s either so.
ALLEGRI IS VERY STUPID IF HE BENCH-OUT PULISIC FOR THE SAKE OF LEAO AND NKUNKU PLAYING TOGETHER
I cant wait to see Nkunku and Leao in attack. Pulisic will maybe lose his starting 11 spot but he will be there and deliver a good performance when called upon in every game .The season is long,we need 4 “good” strikers in the squad.
Your right, Pulisic will be on the bench for one year and then leave. Pulisic does not believe he is a substitute so he won’t stay. I hope he leaves in January.
I am so tired of the constant disrespect Pulisic has to endure. He went through this in all four years at Chelsea and I couldn’t wait for him to find a team that would appreciate him. He did the right thing and found a coach that really wanted him (Pioli) and knew how to utilize him. As a former soccer coach who studied great coaches, I can tell you that the great coaches fit the system to their players and don’t force their players to fit a predetermined system. Sadly, I knew this was going to be the outcome when I heard a dinosaur like Alegre, who was going to bring his outdated ugly 1-0 “park the bus and hope for a counter attack” ancient style. Now, instead of going into the World Cup in his home country with momentum, the storyline will be how Christian has lost his starting spot and his numbers are way down this year. I am at a total loss to explain how he can be the most productive player on the team and the league for two years in a row, and the team goes out and spends $35 million to diminish his role when we desperately need center backs and legitimate strikers. I know it won’t happen in in a World Cup year, but I hope he tries to force a transfer. I just feel like even if Alegre finds a way to shoehorn him into the lineup, he will not thrive in this system.
Well done on the statement that a real coach adapts to the players he has, and does not demand that the players adapt to him. Conte is a living example in Napoli. He started with 5-3-2, saw that it was not working and adapted to the 4-3-3 formation and won the scudetto. It’s Conte. Berlusconi told Allegri that he is a man who does not understand anything.
Yeah, the Nkunku signing dollar amount means he’s bought to be a starter. I think you need all three of Nkunku, Puli, and Leao on the pitch in your base setup. Yes, you can play Puli at wingback when you have to – he has done it before and he could do it again, especially when you play it cockeyed, with one wingback mostly staying high. I’m a little bit worried that the master plan is in fact Pulisic at right wingback in a 3-5-2, since Alex Jimenez is gone and Musah is gone. A 3-4-2-1 is a better choice for this squad, I think. On the other hand, we have the midfield numbers now for a 4-3-3. Or they should have sold Pulisic.
Pulisic will be leaving next year. He got stuck at wingback by Tuchel and hated it. You’re better off benching him. Also, Allegri is full of it when he says he doesn’t know how he’s going to use Nkunku. They talked before the transfer. Allegri wanted him.
3 5 2 can work…
R.. Leao. Nkunku
Saeleamakers Modric. Pulisic
Fofana. Rabiot
Pavvllovich Tomori. Gabbia
GOALKEEPER
I think this can bring something till Jashari and others return to their full fitness.
3 2 3 2 could be the right option.
Leao and Nkunku; Saeleamakers Modric Pulisic;
Fofana and Rabiot;
Pavloviich, Tomori and Gabbia.
The condition is that the last three must always be around and only Fofana can move forward sometimes. The team will cope well till January and when the injury players joined, then more rotation.
Thanks.
If we accept Leao starts, then it’s either Pulisic or Nkunku starting with him. Or all 3 together. Either way, given his terrible form, Gimenez may very well be option #4.
All of you who have an orgasm when you hear that Milan will play in a 3-5-2 (5-3-2) formation, you should stop watching football. While Laeo and Pulisic are there, Milan can play in 4-3-3 formations; 4-2-3-1 or 3-4-3. They are wings and cannot play as a CF. If Allegri did not understand that, then Berlusconi was right when he said that the man does not understand anything.
If Allegri play 352 with this team, then he doesn’t know what he is doing, & also Milan would not finish in first 4 for sure
is this a punishment that Pulisic didn’t sign his renewal?
LOL. People here are really losing their sh1t thinking Allegri would suddenly bench Pulisic because Nkunku came. Just shows how clueless they are. I don’t value/respect Allegri much but I do know he’s not dumb enough to bench his best player. Unless he already wants to get fired but I really doubt that.
Take a fng chill pill. Pulisic isn’t going to be benched just because some video gamers think so. The coaches aren’t obliged to choose a known tactic/formation and use the available players like people do in video games. Football isn’t black & white. The best coaches know how to get most out of his players. Allegri knows he’s not getting that from Pulisic by benching him or making him play as a WB. 😀 😀 😀
Allegri has a system and that overrides players. Remember Chiesa.
I’ll try to remember Chiesa when I see Pulisic in the starting 11 week after week. 🙂