fonseca leao

‘Leao is like Loftus-Cheek and Musah’ – Fonseca justifies benching with intriguing comments

Paulo Fonseca made some interesting comments regarding his decision to bench Rafael Leao again, insisting he is not above anyone else in the squad.

Leao has now been benched for the last three league games, and speaking before the match at the U-Power Stadium Fonseca suggested he was preserving the winger for midweek when his side take on Real Madrid.

The Portuguese came on with 30 minutes to go and had a couple of chances to kill the game off, including one where he burst through on goal after a dribble from deep in the Milan half.

In the press conference after the game, Fonseca spoke very clearly about his handling of Leao and his comments were relayed by MilanNews.

Three games in a row for Leao where he has started on the bench…

“There is no Leao case. It’s an option: Musah on the bench, Loftus-Cheek on the bench, Leao the same. This must be normal, it must be normal.”

 

Yes, mister, but Leao is not Loftus-Cheek, he is not Musah. Because of his status it is news when he goes to the bench three times…

“No, for me Leao is like Loftus-Cheek and Musah. Status doesn’t go on the pitch.”

The phrasing was certainly interesting, but it seems apparent that Fonseca was trying to convey the message that in his eyes all the players are equal in terms of having to work hard for their starting spot.

Just because Leao is the biggest name and highest-paid player does not mean he gets starts by default, at least in the eyes of the coach.

Tags AC Milan Paulo Fonseca Rafael Leao

25 Comments

  1. Leao lacks confidence at the moment and Fonseca is making it worse. Morata plays a crap game and he heaps praise on him. His spot is secure once fit. Fonseca would play Pulisic if he had the flu, Fofana and Reindeers cud play crappy games but their spot is secure for the next fixture.

    Compare Leao’ goal contributions
    to minutes played ratio and then watch that of his teammates. Tell me if it’s justified that he is on the bench. Yes we have come accustom to a phenomenal Leao but benching the guy when others play crap is dumb and seems more like an ego statement.

      1. It’s a teamsport FFS. If you want to be the only one who matters try tennis or any other solo sport instead. In football, team comes first. Always.

    1. Fonseca is playing with his job by benching Leao
      Leao’s statistics us glaring and benching him is affecting the team adversely
      Fonseca need to understand that other Milan players aren’t happy with the way he is treating Leap

      1. Says who? Leoa isn’t happy and some fans are buthurt. I didn’t see any other teammate suffer because poor leao isn’t a guarantee starter. They know the deal

      1. Fact… It’s not just an opinion. However akafor does have potential. I would like to see leao, Okafor and pullisic starting… Take out morata and the manager

  2. “all the players are equal in terms of having to work hard for their starting spot.”

    That’s the basis of any functional team.

    1. bb like blackberry. that is a brand that lost his value long time ago, just like you and mr clownseca. Leao, Rlc and musah the same 😂😂😂. now we have a real loser as a coach. if you can’t get the best out of leao who will you get the best out from. 10matches down the line and no real hero in your squad.

  3. If Acmilan want to be unbeaten and they can’t make major signing Acmilan should sign Dejan kulvshevki or ritsu Doan as our attacking midfield then we sign Berardi to support chukwueze then a winger that would support Okafor or leao then we managed zeroli,Fofana, musah,as our double pivot including Reijnder then we play pulisic more as an attacking midfield like in some matches will substitute him why our central defence Gabbia,thiaw, Pavlovic, bartasaghi, then left back,Theo and Jimenez then Emerson or terraciano

    1. Atalatan got Lookman for how much again? Is Morata is midfielder or a striker? Because I see him more in midfield than the opposition box 18. I will suggest if the management would go for Richarlison come next summer for the striker position.

    2. People misunderstanding of the pockets of milan. Milan has got the money, they won’t buy expensive and they won’t give high salaries. Fonseca will force out leao and the club will gain good capital off him. This being said, it’s really not who you bring in to the club and play on the pitch that matters at Milan. The players don’t want to play that old football Fonseca is bringing to Milan. Pullisic and leao is both to fast for morata. Best balls in for morata is from hernandez which is very little chance to gain momentum.

      Milan looks much poorer than last season

  4. Leao the same as Musah and RLC??? That is insane. That people like bb and flyingturtle don’t get it is understandable (you know, these two, LOL) but a professional coach displaying this colossal lack oh judgement is actually pretty sad.

    1. The point he’s trying to make is that the name on the back doesn’t influence his decision. You’re doing what you’re told or you’re on the bench.

      Except he’s trying to get something out of Leao that he won’t ever get. So let’s see how long it will take him to realize that.

      Let a sports car be a sports car and not an SUV.

      1. “The point he’s trying to make is that the name on the back doesn’t influence his decision. You’re doing what you’re told or you’re on the bench.

        Except he’s trying to get something out of Leao that he won’t ever get.”

        Just like you’re trying to educate Mario’s sad little brother about the point he’s trying to make. He won’t ever get it.

  5. …saying, he runs at the goal but doesn’t score.
    (and plays less d than the other 2).

    as for me, I’d like to see him back in the starting 11.

  6. It sounds to me like this guy is trying to chase away talent… I really want pioli back… We have a much stronger team now but still lack results… And his blaming leao… Do we have Ten Hag 2.0 at Milan?

  7. It’s all about work rate off the ball in the eyes of
    Fonseca. Leao won’t do the work and won’t start.

    Leao is clearly our most talented attacking player – he has skills that nobody in the world can stop 1v1. And that then tilts the entire defense to put two players on Leao, leaving the defense a little thin on the opposite side.

    But he doesn’t make the off ball attacking runs and he doesn’t counterpress. Watch what Pulisic does when he loses the ball. He immediately tries to win it back. Leao just starts walking back slowly.

    It’s just a bad marriage between Leao and Fonseca. Either one of them changes or they are going to get a divorce. I don’t see either one changing and my gut is leaning towards BOTH being gone by the end of the season.

    Honestly, I think this is on management. The team should have either sold Leao last summer or hired a different manager.

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