In the summer, it seemed Rafael Leao would be transformed by Massimiliano Allegri, and the Portuguese is now shining brighter than ever for AC Milan.
Players like Leao are far more difficult than they are easy. Of course, it can be easy, but working out where to make them stand out is the challenging bit. For Allegri, the star is a striker, and so the change was made in the summer.
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The decision to move him centrally came with years of questioning about its possibility. With many suggesting the idea, without the guarantee that his numbers would improve. However, they have done.
Leao’s improvement
As Quotidiano Sportivo reports, there are very obvious benefits in his game since the move. He has scored five goals in seven league games, with an assist on the side too. Against Lazio, he was instrumental, scoring the winner as well as having five shots, of which three were on target.
It took until February to hit five goals in Serie A last season, whilst also being made to wait 512 days for a Serie A goal at San Siro. Now, both look like distant memories of the old Leao.
Whether the Rossoneri can ‘do anything’ with this new Leao remains to be seen, but the initial results are beyond positive.
Last game Pulišić was the striker and now it’s Leão ?
Does everytime a player scores from very close range that player becomes a striker ? Aren’t wingers, second strikers or even midfielders allowed to poach for opportunities ?
It not what you are but what you are playing as.
A striker has different space in pitch compared to a winger and so on.
In the derby Pulišić was given more freedom to drop deeper and operate as a second striker while Leão was asked to remain centrally and generally closer to the goal.
In saturday’s game, it was Leão who actually moved more freely across the pitch and I suppose Nkunku was supposed to be the main striker for that game.
Point is Leão is better as a second-striker, not as a striker.
You are wrong, it was Nkunku that was the second striker, Leao was the main striker, go back and see the game, perhaps see the extended highlights
Let’s be realistic, Nkunku was the official match ghost.
Nope Leao was the striker, Pulisic was allow to roam more
Yes in the derby Pulišić was the second striker, that’s what I said.
But this article: “https://sempremilan.com/inter-0-1-ac-milan-five-things-we-learned” wanted to conclude that Pulišić was the N°9, so that what I was calling out.
Yes, they don’t even check the average position of the player or what he did the whole game, just that one move. He is a no. 9!!!
Anyhow, Leao is a more complete center forward, he can do everything due to his physicality. Pulisic can’t do it in the box as well as he doesn’t have that physicality (height and strength). While Leao is better as a second striker and a dribbler – when those 2 play it is a no brainer who needs to be in the box for headers etc.
Leao is having to play as a 9 because frankly we don’t have another choice. If Max had his way, he would have a good 9 who could play with his back to goal and use Leao to bounce off him on the counters. Or even use 3 upfront with both Puli and Leao …
That would be change of formation 4-3-3 or stick to 3-5-2 and using Pulisic as the center forward and dropping Fofana to the bench, I doubt Allegri will do that.