Former AC Milan manager Fabio Capello has urged Rafael Leao to practice shooting in training and has made a comparison with Zlatan Ibrahimovic when he was a player.
Speaking during an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport (via Milan News), the legendary Italian coach explained that whilst he does not know exactly what Stefano Pioli gets his players to do in training, he does know what Leao should do more of.
He emphasised the importance of forwards practising their shooting and free-kicks when they come to the end of a training session, even if they are already known to be excellent attacking players.
“Given that I don’t allow myself to judge the work of Pioli and his staff and that I don’t know how Leao trains, I can certainly say that specific exercises are always useful. Even Zico, Baggio, and Del Piero stopped at the end of training to try shots, free kicks, penalties. For talented players, correcting defects is simpler, the improvements are almost immediate and they are the first to notice it,” Capello said.
The goals seem to have largely dried up for Leao this season, with the Portuguese winger only netting three times in Serie A. He does have nine league assists which means he is still of major benefit to the team, but everyone knows that he has the talent to score more regularly.
Capello used the example of Zlatan Ibrahimovic as a reason for Leao to work on his shooting. The Swedish striker had to adapt the way he finished thanks to his immense height.
“I changed Ibra’s posture when he shot. He was so tall and it wasn’t functional to the way he shot. Zlatan didn’t lack the physical means, like Leao: he has everything to improve with his head,” Capello said.
Capello is about 4 years too late to realize this man can’t shoot.
Also, he took a shot at Pioli too.
He doesn’t know what exactly Pioli has them do in training. It’s easy to figure out Don Fabio, he makes them run fast. Can’t you tell by the way Milan plays? Run fast on the counter or go 1v1.
Bottom line is that players themselves should be eager to improve their flaws , not to wait on the coach. If you are not self motivated to improve and you need someone else to push you, you will not get far. They make enough money to hire shooting expert to help with their shooting. Or even better, you are/were teammates with Zlatan, CR7 Hakan, Bruno, etc, some of the best strikers of the ball ever or some of the best currently. You could have asked them to teach you during training.
If there is a will there is a way to improve.
Unfortunately there doesn’t seem to be a will when it comes to Leao.
Recently I watched Sheva’s interview with Gary Lineker where he said that he stayed for an hour after every training at Milan to work on his finishing and this is one of the most clinical strikers ever.
Leao is too busy for that.
Sure a lot of us know that elephant in the room. But has any coach pointed it out to Leao?
Yeah when you are working to a deadline on your biography, have your fashion collaborators hounding you for new ideas and a late night rap gig to attend you can hardly be expected to stay late at training!
Maybe Baggio and Del Pierro etc should have broaden there horizons so they can stay relevant
This!
This is what I believe Leaos issue is. He wants to be a star more than a footballer. Imagine he put all his effort into playing and improving rather than his other activities. He would be unstoppable. At this level you make a choice, be good or work hard to be great
Yep. Leao already thinks he’s good enough. The best of best have always worked hard to improve day after day. Being content will kill the progress. You have to thrive for perfection. Even after reaching it. 🙂
beckham also had a lively life outside of football but on the pitch he was a beast and always gave it all, even in training.
But leao isnt like that. that is why he will never be a top top player
Absolutely.
Levandowski too had major issues with shooting, and Klopp trained him a lot till he reached the right level. Coaches should help young strikers, hence they are called “coaches”.
Can someone find Capello and Sacchi a new hobby please!
Rafael is completely transformed player this year. And that’s thanks to Pioli and new better players.
Rafael today run a lot and assists a lot. He started to help defence and use pass more regularly than shot on target.
People can expect more goals from Rafa, but his transformation helped also other players to score more goals, like Pulisic, Giroud .
(Shhhhhhhh…. Not everyone here comprehends that….)
Imagine one of the most valuable attackers in world football is expected to both assist and score goals!! How unreasonable
Unreasonable indeed! And some people even suggest he should defend too!!! F’ng outrageous, right?!!!
lol.
Defend eh?
No capito
Yes Rafeol leao is an amazing talent ,great to have him. He has been of immense help especially to Giroud ..Yes Giroud has a great eye for the goal, and his finishing has been quite good ,,,and not only has he scored goals ,,but his assists have been staggering.
The team with Rafeol leao is a much better balanced team ..Yes his goal scoring is not that good, but his provisions of goals has been good .Goals will come from him again soon ..Yes and has improved under a great coach pioli .As have many of the new players. We are having a fantastic season so far..
We have not quite hit top form ,,but let’s get to the final of the Europa leauge ..if we do this then we will all say well done