AC Milan head coach Paulo Fonseca has publicly made the point that he believes a different version of Rafael Leao will be seen this season, and a report has explained what that means.
As La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) write this morning, Fonseca wants to transform Leao as he explained after the Silvio Berlusconi Trophy on Tuesday night: “I’m very happy with him and it seems to me that he is more inclined to work defensively for the team.”
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The former Lille coach has an idea in his head: if Leao memorises the movements that are asked of him, he will get closer to the penalty area and be more decisive in front of goal, having scored 58 goals in 210 appearances for Milan so far.
Boot camp
Fonseca and Leao faced each other when the former was the head coach of Roma and the latter was on the pitch with Milan, but they met properly before the European Championship, the coach went to visit his future No.10 at the training camp of the Portuguese national team.
Paulo had already explained to him what he had in mind then, but the real work from a tactical point of view began when Leao joined the team during the tour in the United States, beginning the process of transformation that Fonseca has in mind began.
It will clearly take time to change the ‘habits’ of the former Lille forward, but the path has been taken and the feeling is that there will never be a turning back. During the first half of the Berlusconi Trophy, Fonseca was often seen barking orders at Leao from the technical area, in Portuguese of course.
The Morata factor
Fonseca wants Leao to get closer to the opponent’s goal, and sometimes even act as a centre-forward because he knows that Morata loves to move wide on the left to create space for his team-mates.
Rafa with his speed must drive towards the box and then score, improving his percentages in front of the goalkeeper. With Olivier Giroud, who was certainly more of a penalty area presence than the Spaniard, he had less space.
Now the path to the goal will be paved by the tactical intelligence and characteristics of the former Atletico Madrid player, something which should cater more for his game.
Defensive phase
And then there is the non-possession phase: to recover the ball in a more dangerous area, the Portuguese also needs to participate concretely in the pressing movements.
He must fight hard to win the ball back, but also to make an effort to cover the left wing because behind him there is a full-back in Theo Hernandez who likes to get forward himself and attack the middle of the pitch.
Fonseca is convinced that his compatriot is ready to make the definitive leap in quality and that his ideas – in addition to becoming a father later this year – will favour Leao from a mental point of view and help him take that final leap.
I like what I am seeing from Fonseca, there’s a plan, a strategy. I said for most of last season, Leao needs coaching to get to the next level. Like Carlo said, he’d kick his ass everyday. Pioli just relied upon what Leao had already. If Leao can do as he’s asked then he can become top 5 in the world no doubt
If you ask leao to play defense and high pressing i think you can only get a leao who will soon want to go away from here ,that’s just impression i have
If that’s the case then Adios! We need team players as we cannot afford to buy messis and mbappes to carry the team.
Leao strutted around and played like he was the Golden Child and Teacher’s Pet under Pioli.
Because that is how Pioli treated him – never ever criticizing him or pushing him to do more.
Yep, that really needed to change, and now it looks like Milan have a coach who is going to stick a much needed cattle prod into Leao’s butt and make him play up to his full potential.
If we actually see Rafa press and play defense then I’m gonna really start to believe in Mister Fonseca
Leao job is score goal. Not defense
This is where the season’s success hinges. If Fonseca can get Leao to press and make the leap, this team will challenge for Scudetto and Champions League. If it goes the other way, things could get ugly, Leao could be sold in January at a cut rate price and we could struggle to finish in top 4.
I want Leao to play like he did in the Euros…tracking back and being aggressive in taking on his man. No one can touch him for speed, just needs to polish his technique.