Carlo Pellegatti has jumped to the defence of Rafael Leao after his reaction to being substituted off on Sunday night against Napoli, calling the situation surrounding him ‘unbearable’.
Leao was withdrawn alongside Olivier Giroud – who had scored a brace – and both were visibly unhappy at being brought off as photos showed. A video then surfaced showing Leao walking around the field rather intently towards Pioli to ask why he was brought off.
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Yacine Adli tried to intercept him on the way and calm him down but was pushed aside, while Tommaso Pobega and Alessandro Florenzi also tried to have a word with the Portuguese winger before he eventually got to the coach and spoke briefly with him.
Pellegatti spoke exclusively to Radio Rossonera about a number of topics including the latest on a potential return for Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the media attention surrounding Leao and the games to come against Udinese and PSG.
Ibrahimovic is the topic of discussion again, are there any updates?
“Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a strong desire for Milan. Ibra must decide the role, they give him enough carte blanche. One could be Cardinale’s personal advisor, it’s a very active role. On an economic level, Milan are ready to listen to him, Cardinale wants him badly.
“Ibra has had a strong shock since his return to Milanello, we await moves from him. He has to figure out whether he wants to be free at the moment or whether to make this complicated commitment. There are no deadlines. Pioli would welcome him with satisfaction.
“Pioli can’t do everything, Ibra would be fundamental. What Maldini did for example, manage the relationship with the players. Reference figure and link between the management and the team.”
Olivier Giroud said after the game that at 1-2 against Napoli the team didn’t know whether to defend or attack. What did his words say to you?
“Intonation counts in Giroud’s words, they were reported well but I didn’t read any controversy with the coach in them. It didn’t seem to me that he was saying: ‘Pioli left us alone’.”
What are your thoughts on Leao’s reaction?
“We have to agree on Leao, if he had come out calm and lounging everyone would have said that he doesn’t care and that he doesn’t have Milan blood in his veins.
“If he complains and asks Pioli for explanations, we criticise him anyway. We are the only environment that criticizes his champions, we really want to hurt ourselves. The situation is unbearable.”
Udinese and PSG are up next…
“All the teams are under scrutiny, now everyone puts the problems ahead, we only talk about the teams that are not performing at their best. Trust me, the next matches are a test for everyone.”
Leao is just not good enough for the club. Like Sacchi said, he has a lot of flaws that are pulling the team down and disadvantaging the team. He needs to go. Sell him as soon as possible and get a more practical player. Not someone with a few tricks and no results.
Who do you think Milan should get as a left winger who is at least as good as Leao ? for around 30M maximum ?
Raratata simply You Are Not good enough to be tifoso, to be milanista, to be
R O S S O N E R O ! ! !
My guy!
Overreliance on him will be the death knell of this team. He must be managed and everyone will have to contribute to the success of the team. He needs to be surrounded by players that inspire and lift him to perform at all time, and that is what we are missing in this team. That’s why he checks out when the team is battling. Who else are we looking at to make things happen? Hence Sacchi’s repeated call that the team must play as a unit…
We have a soft coach, no doubt. Leao had been like this until Ibra came back. Ibra’s presence, and rebukes always put him back in line. Now, there’s no one to fear, so, he’s back to his old self. Even if you are the best player in the world, the team will turn their back on you if you don’t give them support when they need it, or if you keep doing your own thing. Football is not an individual sport. We have a lot of talents in this team, so, the coach has to work his tactics to bring out the best in them, without depending on Leao. That way the team wins, not just one player that wants attention.
You realize you’re the type of fan Pellegatti is referring too?
I just don’t like this behaviour. I mean Leão played a really bad game agains t napoli. Losing on first touches. Bad runs. Too easy on his opponents.. je didn’t prepare well for the game and he should. He is not a talent anymore, at his age and position in the lub he needs to be a consistent Gem!
When we speak about Giroud, he played a great game, a wonderful one but after 80 minutes, we need fresh legs and He is 37 yo.. we also need to give more playing time to the likes of Jovic and Okafor. The first has proven himself in other clubs and the latest has so much talent and so much to prove… Pioli’s decision is good.. it would’ve been better to actually take out Leão sooner since he had deads legs in this game
What Giroud said was amazing. And I saw that Napoli didn’t know at 1-2 they attack or defend so it was up to Mr Pioli to react with good substitutions