Rafael Leao and Paulo Fonseca are still in the early stages of figuring out their relationship together at AC Milan, but it would be fair to say that it hasn’t got off to a perfect start.
Calciomercato.com write how Leao and Fonseca’s bond ‘has not taken off’ yet, and the most recent story to make the headlines is the fact that the winger decided to imply that he feels more trust from Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez, as well as from the squad there.
Udinese, Club Brugge, Bologna and Napoli: the next four games will decide a lot for Fonseca, who is still not 100% stable in his role, and Leao can offer his compatriot a hand. Incidents such as the cooling break saga against Lazio and the various episodes against Fiorentina have not helped this.
Following the same path taken by Stefano Pioli during his management at Milan, Leao ‘demands a freedom of expression’, in essence wanting to be less required for defensive schemes and tasks, which Fonseca cannot allow in the high-risk 4-4-2 that he is insisting on.
Here we come to the crucial point, to the crux of the matter: can Milan, given how the team was built and the players that the usual XI is made up of, allow itself to exempt even just one of its outfield players from the defensive tasks required to maintain a team balance?
As a follow-up, is Leao the man that deserves to effectively be given a free pass? The long-awaited consistency has not yet arrived from him despite being at Milan for five years, and he gives the feeling of always being capable of more.
GAME OVER!!! 2015/16 👍🏻🇺🇲🇵🇹🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤮
No.
I’d love to see him under Conte.
Leao is an idi0t. Pulisic somehow manages to work hard on both side of the pitch and doesn’t hinder his contributions..
Leao gets asked to defend more and is like ‘oh, I need more freedom ‘. Nah you need to
a) learn how to shoot,
b) get some stamina. You gotta do 12km a game and his average was usually under 8.5km. That’s rubbish
While there’s some truth to what you’re saying there are two things…1. even Puli said he benefits from the attention placed on Leao, so he has more room to work with, and 2. We could like both players simultaneously. They’re both very very good players for us. One has a more powerful explosive game but less defebding while the other has a more complete game. I like them both. What I think is that the midfield & defence needs to get their stuff in order so they can supply these guys with the ball. Once we figure that out, it’s problems for even the best of teams.
Well sure puli takes advantage of the space that is created, not necessarily by rafa tho. Goes between the lines and does what he does. But I’m not talking about that. All I’m saying is one of them covers around 10km and the other 8.5km.
I still think if we played with a 3 backline it would solve a bunch of our defensive woes. Atm fofana is asked to stay back and “balance” things. With a 3 backline there would be no need for that and he’d be free to do what a mezzala does best. Why have a midfielder defend when you can have a defender defend… idk
Flying Turtle… when you press and are able to stop the first pass your midfielders and outside backs can reset and there’s less space. If you get that first pass to a free midfielder the game opens up. So yes, in modern day football you either press and stop that first pass or play counterattacking football. Less Italian teams are playing counterattacking football. Regarding Leao, it’s not like he’s not getting good chances, he’s just not putting them away.
More freedom!!!! Lmfao you are too lazy as it is. Plastic literally plays on both sides every game. Meanwhile leao hugs the sideline and is next to worthless without the ball lol but he wants more freedom lol
Players like Leao should get more freedom to play his game… I think he should help out in defence at times, but not everytime… He needs the maximum stamina to attack and create chances…