Sky journalist Peppe Di Stefano has been left pleasantly surprised by the way that Paulo Fonseca handled the Rafael Leao situation.
It has definitely been Leao’s most turbulent start to the season since the one that he joined (2019-20) as the new coach Fonseca has not been afraid to bench him, even in big games.
However, he seems to have rediscovered form and most importantly his smile in recent weeks. After an outstanding performance at the Bernabeu against Real Madrid, he scored a brace against Cagliari that should have been match-winning.
Leao scored the opener for Portugal during their 5-1 win over Poland in the first game of the current break to continue his good run, and he admitted during an interview that the ‘issue’ with Fonseca has been resolved in his eyes.
Di Stefano spoke on Carlo Pellegatti’s YouTube channel and – in addition to commenting on how important the end of 2024 is for this season – he also gave his thoughts on Jovic and Leao.
“Jovic’s situation needs to be resolved, but what is this story that he doesn’t play with Milan but goes with the national team and can play and train,” he said.
There is a problem and it needs to be resolved, then in the end the only one who pays the consequences is unfortunately Milan. Fonseca? He surprised me positively on some things, see Musah at the Bernabèu, I also really liked how he managed Leao…”
Luigi didn’t like it. Basically half the fandom were crying for leao like little girls..
Oh, leao is unhappy.
Oh, leao must play all games.
Oh, leao mustn’t defend.
Oh, flyingturtle is a mean leao hater.
Oh, fonseca needs to be fired and leao MUST be spoiled and showered with attention…
Etc
what the boy went thru is part of his struggles as a man as a father and much more as a professional. but we all know without leao We basically fearless in the League. Puli is just making a trademark, Leao is stamped every defenders and coach knows him.
Well I didn’t mind it personally at least in the sense that players shouldn’t be allowed to slack off as they see fit as a team is only as strong as its weakest link and even more so when we tactically want to press high and defend as a unit as Fonseca seems to wants us to do.
Never liked when people use that hater terminology as it sounds like something a teenager would come up with because of lack of a valid argument.
I’ve read comments on SempreMilan that said he just didn’t have defending in him which in my view is downright preposterous and especially considering that he is by far our most athletic player in the squad. Over the years I’ve even seen people being accused of being racist for saying he is lazy which funny enough is just a lazy excuse.
When that is said I do think he has shown encouraging signs in recent games and is starting to man up and I’m not talking about his goal/assist contribution but his overall contribution to the team as a whole. If he can keep developing in that sense then we certainly will have an improved player in Leao and if that is partially down to Fonseca then I can only commend him for that.
Well said. Those hater/racist comments are indeed from the “righteous” people with zero arguments.
Even though I’m far left political wise even I can see how empty such accusations are and if anything such sort of simplified argumentation is detrimental to any reasonable discussion between two parties and might even keep some people from expressing themselves. Nobody would ever call it racist if someone of non white background called a white player lazy if he didn’t put in the right workload so that is basically double standards which I’ll never support.
“Nobody would ever call it racist if someone of non white background called a white player lazy if he didn’t put in the right workload so that is basically double standards which I’ll never support.”
This! And it’s a fact.
Lol, Fonseca himself admitted that it wasn’t effective. Leao came out the other side the same player he always was. His defense output looks pretty much the same. And surprise surprise, we concede cheap goals with or without him on the pitch
One thing Fonseca did do against Caliagri is place Leao at the very top of our attack, with as little defensive responsibility as possible. To me that seems like the best place for him.
Agreed in principle with benching Leao but doing it against Napoli was overkill. As if we weren’t depleted enough that game he leaves out the one guy who scores against them every single game.
Acmilan will adapt I’m sure of that but I love the companion of thiaw and Pavlovic