Rafael Leao was called up for AC Milan’s clash against Udinese, but he remained on the bench. As highlighted by a report, it’s the first time that he hasn’t come on since December 2021, which says a lot about Paulo Fonseca’s decision.
There is no doubt that Leao has been a crucial player for Milan in recent years. Inconsistencies or not, he has found ways to make a difference and that is also why he has been getting a lot of playing time. Yesterday, however, shed a different light on the situation.
According to MilanNews, Leao remained on the bench for an entire game for the first time since December 2021. On that occasion, Milan prevailed 3-0 against Genoa thanks to goals from Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Junior Messias (brace).
While Fonseca made it clear in his post-match conference that the exclusion was for the good of the team, it’s not just a signal to Leao. Indeed, it tells everyone that the manager will field the players in the best form, rather than favouring stars simply for being the latter.
At the end of the day, this should also boost morale among players that don’t always get to play from start, knowing that there is a chance if you do well in training. Furthermore, it keeps the Rossoneri from overworking players like Leao, which hopefully should help too.
Stop it.
If you rest someone like Leao its more a compliment than something negative.
We need him fully fit for Europe were we are in a must win situation.
Forza Milan and Forza Fonseca ❤🖤
I think this is false logic. Leao didn’t finish on bench because of poor form, but because of necessity of rotation.
Leao is still one of most dangerous our players. But luckily our right wing is now also dangerous, so when teams double Leao, we can attack on right flank also.
Leao didn’t become like Lautaro Martinez value in Inter, but still for Milan he is most important player. If he can’t be sold in future for 100+ million, then Milan should keep this player also in future, untill he can run fast and create chances….
Leao isn’t in our top 3 most important players. Pulisic, Theo, Mike and Fofana are the most crucial players to the club. Leao shows up in one out of every 4 matches.
Fofana though???
I’d say Pulisic, Mike and Reijnders are the most important. And im only excluding Theo because his discipline and inconsitencies.
When Theo plays, he plays good. But he’s also very offensive minded and if Leao and him play lazy, you got an entire flank that doesnt press and it falls down to midfielders and defenders to defend against opponents attackers, midfielders and fullbacks.
100%
Fofana isn’t there yet. Granted he took Udinese midfielders for dinner, but they are sitting ducks.
Mike is surely a crucial player but he can’t change a game the way Leao does, he is a goalie.
Theo is maybe better than Leao, but also, being a defender means he can’t do the stuff Leao does. A forward will always be regarded a bit higher.
That leaves Pulisic. Pulisic is better than Leao.
Put Theo on leao’s position and see the magic… Leao is overrated in my opinion
Actually, I take back some of what I said. On second thought, I think we can say Theo is better than Leao.
You know what they should be writing about? How transfermarkt dropped leao value by 15M. Dude did 15G 14A last season. Now he has 1G 4A and value drops.
Kvara on the other hand 4G 2A and the value stays the same.
It’s BS
Don’t look for transfermarket. The price what they show isn’t real. You can see it on Fofana price. They show price somewhere around 35m and we buy him for 20 +5 in bonuses. Same Raijnders, his price was around 15m and we buy him for 20m. If we talk about players with price around 100m , 10m up or down doesn’t matter. After this season his price will be still around 90m.. 1G + 4A for winter is still good in 8 matches 🙂
There might be more to it then just goals and assists. Total touches, successful dribbles, tackles won, etc.
It was a message and tactical choice. Let him know we don’t depend on him, so step up or sit. Also for CL game he will be fresh after national.duties. Okafor showed he is willing to put in defensive work as well as being good at the attacking phase. Another non Leao start could happen on Tuesday. Personally I think Okafor deserved a CL start. He does have CL experience.
Okafor played great yesterday but unfortunately he got subbed off because of a red card
He should start again vs Brugge.
Leao should go watch the Udinese game and pay close attention to Pulisic and how much he ran and how much he defended for over a 100 minutes. Maybe he’ll learn learn something form that and understand why he isn’t playing.
Leao is a never going to be a legend. He is an athletic man with no fire. Sell him now before he isn’t worth anything.
He staeted on the bench because he played heavy mins with Portugal.
Leão didn’t come on because ACM needed players to defend. Not his strong suit.
Fonseca with his stupid childish games
Gibing Leao a rest after the international games is a sensible decision. I believe that Fonseca opted to start without Leao and secure the game I’m the first half. If, that had failed, Fonseca would have then fielded Leao. Udinese players having lost enevery after 60-70 minutes of playing, Leao would have most probably managed to breklak down the tight line that Udi were keeping.
Plus, when we lost a player for red card, and with 1 – 0 advantage, it is only logical to not to field Leao as he is not a presser falls back to defend and recover balls. At this point of the game, we needed all “hands” to defend to overcome the minus 1 disadvantge.
Moreover, we gave a tight schedule coming up, which gives Fonseca another reason to manage Leao tonyhe max. I guess that we all agree on the fact that Leao is fast and well built but his stamina is not as good as Theo, Reinjnders, or Pulisic.
Just a thought! Thank you for reading.
I would put Theo in right wing just like they did for Bale and see the goals that would pour in
Dunno if Theo has the shooting quality of Bale or his lethal presence in front of the goal. Bale was bit unique as a player.
But maybe we can try Theo as a winger once in a while, why not.
I am really questioning if you guys even know what you are talking about. Theo didn’t play because he was shown red against Fiorentina. He should be benched a game too for the PK shenanigans. Leao was a soft benching, using travel and national duty as an excuse to sit him. The only way he was getting on the pitch, being down a man and due to his defense being nil, was if Milan went down a goal. Leao is a Diva. It’d be great if he’d buy-in on the team concept. But until he does, his value will continue to tank….