AC Milan have been left wanting more from Rafael Leao more often than they have been left amazed in recent times. For this reason, Paulo Fonseca must do more to try to get Leao back to his best, but it is not a one-way street.
When Fonseca arrived in the summer, he waited for the majority of players to arrive at Milanello for first communications. For Leao, the Portuguese manager travelled to speak to him personally – a statement of his intent to make the winger his crown jewel.
In the months that have followed, there have not been the performances that either party would hope for.
Of course, there have been moments where the winger has excelled, and when he captained the squad against Lecce, he was phenomenal. In too many games, though, this version of Leao has been missing.
For this reason, Milan News suggests that the head coach may have to alter his system to get more from his star player – the 4-2-4 with heavy possession ‘is not exactly the best’ for Leao. However, it is not just a one-way issue.
Against Poland last week, the forward looked close to his best and tore apart the opposition team on several occasions. This quality of performance must return to Milan with the winger, rather than being an international regularity.
Therefore, both must help each other, and if they don’t, not only do they both lose, but so do the Rossoneri.