AC Milan missed two penalties in the 2-2 draw against Bologna last night and after the game, Stefano Pioli revealed that Rafael Leao said he would take the next one. A suggestion that the manager shared his thoughts on.
Olivier Giroud and Theo Hernandez both placed the ball on the spot and both failed to find the back of the net. Milan managed to complete the turnaround anyway, thanks to a strong display from Ruben Loftus-Cheek, but Bologna equalised late with a penalty.
After the game, in his interview with Sky Italia, Pioli was asked about what Leao said when he was subbed off. The manager revealed that the winger said he would take the next penalty, also sharing his thoughts on just that.
“Leao’s words after the sub? He told me that he will take the next penalty. He doesn’t score many in training but perhaps in a match, it will be different… If he will take the next one? I don’t know now,” he stated.
It remains to be seen who will be the penalty taker the next time the opportunity arises, but Milan will certainly practice penalties at Milanello next week. The next game is against Frosinone and the Rossoneri will need to restore their confidence with a win.
If our memory serves us right, Leao has only taken one penalty for Milan and that was against Rio Ave in the Europa League qualifiers (not counting friendlies), which he scored.
Why are they talking about switching the penalty takers from someone that have always scored to someone that doesn’t even score in training?
Giroud has been almost perfect with penalties these 3 years. Are we going to take him out because he misses an occasional penalty once in a blue moon?
You know the GK gets paid, too.? Sometimes by luck they dive and guess the right side.
No need to overreact. If Giroud is on the pitch he should take them. I have never liked Theo shooting penalties but he has been scoring them too.
If you going to swap penalty takers at least give it to someone that can score in training and in games like Pulisic, not to someone that can’t score them in training but you hope he can score in games.
Leao does not need to be on pens, especially if he can’t even score in training with no pressure. Ridiculous. Just leave Giroud on them, he scores at least 8/10
Not a wise comment to help build leao’s confidence.
How bad is Leao on penalties in training when his coach comes out and blatantly says in public that he doesn’t score many?
I know.
I didn’t think his shooting was that bad!
Really not helping with his sale price
Giroid had an injured foot when he took this. Why wouldn’t coach see and appoint Calabrian? Why Theo? Calabria.
Calabria? LOL. Pulisic (who I think has a perfect record for his country). RLC.. Reijnders. Lots of better options available.
Pulisic should be taking all the Penalties, and Free Kicks, and Corners.
Why did they take Pulisic OFF of corners, He was taking ALL of the corners during preseason and Start of the Season, And we were actually Scoring some Set play goals with that.
Now they took him off of Corners, and we never score now.