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.
