AC Milan winger Rafael Leao has revealed that Paulo Fonseca has been pushing him hard to improve his defensive game, while he also spoke about the importance of winning games in the Champions League.
It is certainly a mouth-watering clash on paper between Leverkusen and Milan – the Bundesliga champions and the seven-time Champions League winners – and it is one where the Rossoneri will look to prove that they have turned a corner after a difficult start to the season.
Bayer started their European campaign with a 4-0 win away against Feyenoord while the Rossoneri lost 3-1 at home to Liverpool, a result that looked to have put Paulo Fonseca in the hot seat until the derby victory over Inter and the 3-0 win against Lecce.
Leao spoke alongside the head coach at the pre-match press conference on the eve of the game from the BayArena, and his comments were relayed by MilanNews.
What does it mean to wear the armband?
“It’s always a source of pride to be captain of Milan: I’ve been here for six years. When I play with this shirt it’s always a responsibility but when I have the armband it’s even more so.”
People talk a lot about your defensive work…
“From day one, the coach didn’t talk to me about goals and assists but that he wanted a changed player in defence, to be more focused on defensive work: it also helps me to be better. Even while we were coming here he showed me a couple of videos in the car. A person who is helping me a lot.”
Have you read what Giroud said about you?
“My personality is reserved, I’m shy and I don’t like to talk much. When I’m captain, maybe I talk a little more before the game and on the pitch but my strength is to respond with my qualities and help the team with goals and assists.”
What did Fonseca show you?
“He showed me the actions without the ball, the positioning to close on the far post. More defensive things.”
What are the targets for Milan?
“Better to think game by game, tomorrow is difficult and important. It is important to win in the Champions League, a very beautiful thing. It gives us confidence.”
Do you aim more for a great goal or a lot of defensive recoveries?
“I want to win, if to win you have to make sacrifices, do things for the team. The details are very important in these games. These things make the difference.”
Fonseca didn’t show you any Inter clips before the derby. Are you braver now?
“I don’t think I was surprised. We already know how Inter play and the coach didn’t want to put too many things in our heads. It was a game to go there and win, it’s a derby. I hadn’t won for two years and in my head I wanted to win.
“I didn’t want to be the protagonist but to help the team and win. We are more compact and more of a team, we don’t give the opponents space in the middle: I feel better like this defending without the ball and I think the others also feel good with this tactic.”
What do you think about Boniface and Leverkusen in general?
“I know Boniface. and Chukwueze told us about him this week: he is a dangerous, technical and dangerous striker. We will have to be careful.
“But we will have to be prepared for the whole team: all the Bayer players play well, the full-backs Grimaldo and Frimpong. We must not be afraid of Boniface but we must respect his abilities.”