“Let’s put a smile on that face,” is one of the all-time classic movie quotes vocalised by Batman’s nemesis, the Joker, when explaining how he ended up with the infamous scars.
There’s no need to say that line to Rafael Leão, who even during some of his worst performances still beams with a massive smile on the pitch, something reminiscent of former Milan talent Ronaldinho.
Because of this, some argue that Leão doesn’t seem to care enough or isn’t fully committed when the going gets tough. To a certain extent, that’s true. When is the last time he has carried the Rossoneri on his shoulders in times of difficulty?
Two years is an eternity in football terms. With that, it’s easy to forget that a then 23-year-old Leão was seen bursting into tears after claiming the Scudetto against Sassuolo on the final day of the season, collecting a deserved MVP award for the 2021-22 campaign to add the cherry on top.
It means something to him. He wants to win. He means well. But will his breathtaking talent ever align with his capability and expectations?
There is no harm in showcasing positive body language and bubbly personality. That’s just how he was born. However, instead of putting a smile on his face, perhaps that smile should not be turned upside down, but enough to display a bit of a growl at times.
Another chance slipped through Leão’s fingertips to prove himself in a monumental match, this time in the 2-1 derby victory against Inter. The Portuguese starlet was sluggish and uninspiring, wasting a couple of glorious goalscoring opportunities including a header only seconds after the restart.
When it isn’t Leão’s day, it’s frighteningly obvious. Signs such as a lack of tracking back when defending, opting to pass the ball back to the defence on multiple occasions instead of beating his man and attempting ridiculous shots from outside the box were all evident in the recent derby.
The moment Paulo Fonseca arrived to take over the reins from Stefano Pioli meant it didn’t take long for the Portuguese links to become a narrative in preseason, with the hope of connecting with Leão on a personal level to squeeze the best out of his potential. Still, it’s early days.
During Milan’s derby heroics with their backs firmly against the wall coming into the contest, it can be argued that every player pulled their weight aside from Leão and Emerson Royal. Actually, that’s a plus.
The likes of Christian Pulisic are breaking the trend of not showing up in the big games, cementing himself as Milan’s most reliable outlet in the final third. No longer does the American have to scream at the top of his lungs to receive the ball: his team-mates trust him.
Despite Milan’s leaky defence, the club ranks first for most goals scored (11) in Serie A after the first five rounds, scored by nine different players. Gone are the days of Fonseca’s men being heavily reliant on Leão’s productivity which was always the big question if the 25-year-old went hiding. The play can be diversified on both wings instead of the predictable usage of the left-hand side.
Nonetheless, Leão’s frustrating inconsistency is halting the 19-time Italian champions from elevating to the next level. Imagine if he were consistent: could Milan become genuine Scudetto contenders if solutions are identified in the backline?
It’s one thing to silence the Curva Sud after scoring against Paris Saint-Germain last season or responding with a goal against Lazio nearly four weeks ago when he came off the bench. Kudos for showing a reaction if anything, but it shouldn’t have to take something negative such as receiving criticism or being dropped to perform at his best.
The highlight of the week should be Milan’s gutsy victory over their city rivals and saving Fonseca’s job, but this discussion around Leão is a sensitive yet important conversation to have.
Leão can achieve incredible feats; we’ve seen it with our own eyes. Watching him glide with the ball so effortlessly is a sight to behold – an element slowly dying in world football.
The new revamped 4-4-2 or 4-2-4 formation (whichever way you wish to interpret it) is beneficial for the former Sporting Lisbon product. There can be no excuses on that front.
Leão’s shoulders are well-rested, so it’s finally time for him to carry some responsibility as a leader who has represented the club 169 times and lift his side back to the summit.
The next few months could decide his future. Not just concerning Milan, but also the top clubs who might also be left unconvinced.
Leao’s problem is a (500) Days of Summer-style “Expectations vs Reality.” It’s the fact that we expect him to be one of the greats like Ronaldinho but in reality he doesn’t seem to be getting any closer to it.
Sadly, Ronaldinho didn’t stay one of the greats for very long. He could have achieved so much more in his career if he stayed hungry. In that sense I hope Leao doesn’t become too much like Ronaldinho.
Ronaldinho’s main problem was his partying and drinking and showing up wasted to training because of his unwise lifestyle. Those are not among Rafa’s problems. People say Rafa likes fashion and likes music too much. LOL, that’s what most kids his age like. But he doesn’t party heavily, doesn’t drink, doesn’t womanize, and so on. Still, people here apparently like to criticize him for his off-pitch life, of which there is really nothing to criticize him for.
Upgrade Chaka Traore from primavera and let them enjoy
Yeah, sure. The youngsters are not even doing well in Serie C. So far in all games, with Milan Futuro they have scored only one goal in Serie C, and it was a PK. No goals from open play or free kicks. So, if they can’t even compete very well in Serie C, let alone in Serie A.
Leave the youngsters alone, will ya? Let them get some muscle mass and some more game time and fine tuning. They are not ready for Serie A yet, and that’s normal. They are 16, 17, 18, 19 years old. They can’t compete yet with grown men, and Milan Futuro’s struggles in Serie C attest to that.
Leão is irregular and he doesn’t defend well or track back well. Still, he REGULARLY produces either the first, or at worst the second total of goals + assists in a season and has done that every season over the last 3 seasons, so I forgive him for his shortcomings, unlike some rabid haters here. All these people who want Leão to be sold don’t know what they are saying. Who are we then buying that would provide about 30 goals + assists per season??? Last season Leão was only second to Lautaro Martinez in all of Serie A, and by just 2 goal participations fewer than Lautaro. If you all can provide someone else who will do that while replacing Rafa, and someone we can afford to sign, then by all means, sell him. But if we sell him without a suitable replacement, we will miss about 30 goal participations per season. Is that what you want? Not me.
The hatred against Leão is crazy. So far he had this start of season, while not doing so well, still 3 goal participations. Lautaro had only 1 (1 assist to Dimarco in the Derbi). Somehow I don’t see Inter fans screaming at Lautaro and saying he should be sold.
Yes, Pulisic is doing better than Leão this season, so far (more goals + assists but also one additional game and more minutes because one of the games, Leão only played 20 minutes). Also, one of Puli’s goals was almost entirely constructed by Rafa who then assisted Puli. However, last season Leão had 1 goal participation more than Puli, and I won’t be surprised if Rafa catches up and passes Puli again.
To bash and insult a player who produces 30 goal participations per season is utterly insane, regardless of his body language, perceived laziness, etc.
Leão has scored the winner in many Milan games over the years. He is very helpful to the team.
My issue with Rafa is that yes he has good G/A and creates, him playing LW and not wanting to play centrally creates tactical issues. A lot of goals scored this season have come from opponent right backs or right midfielders sending a long diagonal to their left wing which could be negated if he put pressure on the correct player. Also you saying that getting a player that produces the same as him would be difficult but Pulisic was 20mill and has more G/A than Rafa in serie a since he joined while also helps build up and helps defend
No doubt that Puli is currently Milan’s best player and a more complete player than Rafael Leão. No doubt that he was a bargain. I love Puli and I am thrilled that we were able to sign him by such a bargain. By the way, my Milan jersey has Puli’s name and number, not Rafa’s.
But such bargains are not so easy to get. We really lucked out with Puli. That was the exception rather than the rule, for a player of his level.
So, tell me, who exactly do you think we should get – but please, one we can afford, not some fantasy in the clouds – that would provide to Milan, from the left wing, the 30 goals and assists that Leão produces per season, every season???
And not only one we can afford, but also, one who wouldn’t be snatched by some other team far richer than we are.
No, selling Rafa would be a disaster because we wouldn’t be able to replace him with a similar level of quality, unless we got REALLY lucky again like we did when we got Puli (unlikely).
And that speech that we suffer goals on our RIGHT side of the defense because Rafa doesn’t track back on the LEFT side is utterly ridiculous. You are believing in the bull excrement that you are reading from some rabid Leão haters here. Even though it is desirable for a forward to be also good at defending and tracking back, not all are. Not all forwards are complete like Puli. Still, it is MORE a responsibility of midfielders and defenders to provide for good defense, than it is for forwards.
A forward’s PRIMARY mission is to score and assist, and Rafa does that, and does it very often, and he consistently places first or second with Milan for that, and second or third in the entire Serie A for that.
Do I wish he could defend and track back too? You bet. But hey, if he did, probably he would have been snatched from us by the likes of Manchester City, Real Madrid, Bayern, or some Arab club, so let’s count our blessings and appreciate Rafa for his 30 goals + assists he provides to Milan every season.
See, Alexis is better than Leão at tracking back and defending. But he is much worse than Leão as a winger. Who would you rather have, if you could have only one of them? Alexis or Rafa? For me, it would be Rafa. There is a reason why we still have Rafa and he has a release clause of 175M, and we no longer have Alexis. That’s because Rafa is more helpful to Milan than Alexis was, even though Rafa can’t defend or track back to save his life, if his life depended on it.
Players have strengths and weaknesses. Rafa is weak at defending but is great at scoring and assisting. Good enough for me.
We could always switch formations, and not play with LF. I love Leao, and he is still currently our best attacker imo, but he’s not irreplaceable. And the criticism about his defensive contribution is very much justified, although people do seem to forget that his burst playing style requires frequent rests.
Milan should sell Leao. Lazy and lack of effort. He doesn’t work hard for the team and he is not needed.
We already have his replacement in Pulisic. Then Milan can sign Berardi from Sassuolo. Problem solved.
He is not needed? Subtract his 30 G+A per season, and look again at how many points we’d have at season end, and where we’d be on the table. Do o you want us to miss the Champions League? Without Rafa’s 30 G+A we’d have missed it.
Pulisic is way better at RW than LW. And no, we shouldn’t have either Rafa or Puli. It’s best to have BOTH Rafa and Puli, each one of them providing about 30 G+A per season.
Here come the hypotheticals. If Chuk were as good as Puli, you’d have a point; we’d get Puli as LW and Chuk as RW. Unfortunately Chuk has mostly been dismal. Then, your scheme depends on us getting Berardi, who just had an extremely serious injury.
Look, Chiesa never recovered from his serious injury and is a shadow of his former self. Hell, Bennacer never recovered either, and is injured again. Who knows if, one, Berardi will ever be good again, and two, if in case he fully recovers, we’ll be able to buy him? The mercato is not just us looking at the available players and magically getting them. Our rivals in Italy and elsewhere are also looking and are also buying, and often offer more money than we do.
That’s why I said, not some fantasy; actually someone we can afford, and someone who won’t be snatched by our rivals.
Sure, we wanted Zirkzee… Taremi… Thuram… and so on and so forth, but we didn’t get them; rivals domestic and foreign got them.
You want to exchange a certainty like Rafa’s CONSISTENT 30 goals + assists per season, with some project in the clouds, and you quote a player who is currently seriously injured and inactive. Great.
I don’t think anyone is complaining about Leao’s production. It’s his effort and decision making that people have a problem with. His hanging his head and walking back if he doesn’t get the pass he thinks he should have gotten. Or when he takes questionable shots from well outside the box that always go into the crowd. Or when he tries to dribble the 3rd or 4th man instead of passing to an open teammate like he did vs Liverpool when he had Pulisic in on goal if he would have passed it. He will always produce good numbers, he just doesn’t seem to have the awareness that some matches and some moments are bigger than others and you have to really focus and make the right decisions in those moments. He seems to play every game like he’s just having fun in the park. A little more focus and seriousness would go along way.
Agreed, partially. Body language is not important. And again, if Rafa were almost perfect and doing all the things you expect of him, he’d be long gone to a richer club. So, just appreciate his production. He is who he is. He won’t really change. But we can still benefit from his production.
“Body language is not important. ”
Say that to his team mates! Do you think they enjoy working extra to cover his @ss?
I think that a large part of the problem is the apparent lack of effort relative to other players.
I also think that he doesn’t look like he is performing to his ability. Yes, he’s consistently provided 30 Goal involvements a season for three years now, and that’s very good, but we’d expect progress given his age, and by now, at what will probably his physical peak, or close to it, many of us expected him to be in the 40-50 goal involvements, superstar category.
Puli’s goals lately are not really sustainable, comparing him to Leao in terms of attacking prowess is like night and day, people claim Puli track back most of the goals conceded came from the right wing, is Puli really tracking back and defending? Is he not suppose to help Calabria or Emerson Royal? How effective he really is defending? Mist of the fans here just hate leao for nothing, his G/A is top 3 in serie A
Why do YOU hate Pulisic? 🙂
Puli is a Milan player, as Milanist I appreciate every player and don’t hate any including Emerson Royal who IMO is not worthy of Milan shirt, rather is you lot that hates Leao including GDS even against Inter, where you guys complain he had 2 shots on target, 2 assist just to mention few, as a forward he is exceptional, he his human and have the right to be emotional when a pass is expected, he will work on his attitude but he is a match winner anyday, any coach will want a Leao in his team
Ah, the classic “I appreciate all players but it’s you who hate…”. 🙂
I’ve never said I hated any Milan player. Krunic was pretty close to that but I never hated him. One could perhaps say I hated that he got too much playing time for Milan but there’s a difference. Same with Leao. I don’t hate him. I hate his work ethics. Still people choose the easy way and say “you HATE someone when you criticize him”. If only it was that simple and black & white. 🙂
I agree but it’s just another example of how utterly toxic Milan fans are.
There’s just no joy in these people.
Leao should bring joy with his smile and his runs and his goals and his assists and his being one of the legends who helped Milan secure their third Scudetto this century.
The problem with Milan fans is they live in the past but also don’t understand it.
They like to imagine that the Great Milan Sides TM were made up of these Herculean god like players rather than, erm, Stefano Eranio, and where the superstars produced Messi-type levels of consistency.
Nobody except Messi and Ronaldo have produced Messi-type levels of consistency, and even Messi struggled to produce Messi-type levels of consistency outside of Barcelona. In fact Messi shows the difference staying at one club can make.
We cannot expect Leao to magic something up every time he gets the ball and hate him if he doesn’t.
The fact is at least 2-3 times a game he will do something magical. That is pretty high.
I remember watching Baggio play and he’d only produce a few moments of magic a game. That’s what great players did before Messi came along and turned it into a computer game.
“I agree but it’s just another example of how utterly toxic Milan fans are.
There’s just no joy in these people.”
Says the guy who couldn’t enjoy the win over Inter because he was too busy bashing Reijnders. 😀 😀 😀 😀
Real 🙏
“ll these people who want Leão to be sold don’t know what they are saying. Who are we then buying that would provide about 30 goals + assists per season??? ”
With a better team player we don’t need him to provide 30 goals & assists as our defense wouldn’t leak as much. Good offense wins you matches but good defenses win you titles. Less goals needed when you concede the least in the league.
Who has ever thought that Leao smiling during games means that he doesn’t care?
Most Milan and football fans think he doesn’t care because he is lazy on the pitch during games and training sessions. Nothing to do with smiling.
This.
Well said! His numbers are excellent. Over the course of a season, he wins the team many points. I’d expect a good performance against Lecce.
We expect more of Leao because we know he is capable of more. We’ve seen it.
Since the start of last season Leao, Puli and Lautaro have identical number. While Lautaro and Puli are praised, Leao is bashed having the same production.
That’s is because we expect more of him. Is it fair? Remains to be seen. Maybe Leao is comfortable with where he’s at. Maybe he’s not being challenged to get out of his comfort zone more. Maybe Okafor needs to alternate to play more to give Leao incentives to elevate his game.
Since the Scudetto season I feel like he hasn’t elevated his game and defenses are starting to figure him out. Run down, cut in and shoot.
What separates him from the likes of Vini or CR7? I think it’s because the latter two adjust their game to always stay ahead of the players trying to defend them.
Leao won’t always be as fast as he is now but it seems that’s all his banking I’m his game on so far. He still commands double/triple teams so far so that helps our other players. 9 different goal scorers speaks for itself. Even when he is quiet his presence opens space for others.
But at some point Leao has to evolve his game. Unfortunately it won’t happen until Leao himself is ready to take the next step.
Can Ibra and Fonseca challenge him to do that? Remains to be seen.
That’s the thing – since the scudetto season… we were all expecting him to hit the next level after that and while his stats have been good – man he’s frustrating to watch sometimes. 😵💫
“Since the start of last season Leao, Puli and Lautaro have identical number. While Lautaro and Puli are praised, Leao is bashed having the same production.”
The difference between Leao and the other 2 is that they give you that production along with great work rate. Tracking back, pressing, defending, being involved in the process of recovering the ball so the team can go on the attack. That’s why Leao is getting bashed while the other 2 are getting praised.
Can Ibra and Fonseca challenge him? You mentioned Vini and Cristiano. Do you think they need someone to challenge them? Cristiano is a billionaire who has won everything in football and yet he is the hardest working player at 40. Crying from anger for losing a final in Saudi. Leao doesn’t have that mentality and never will.
Everything that you said is true. Still, even with all these shortcomings and all the poor attitude, lack of interest in some games, inability to track back and defend, Leão still produces as much as Puli and Lautaro.
I couldn’t care less for things like body language or even temper tantrums like Z was faulting Leão for having after being subbed out (by the way, CR7 had plenty of those). Like I said in other posts, this is not a fashion show where body language is the most important part, and is not a mental health outpatient clinic where personality is the most important part. It’s football. What wins games is not body language or personality. It’s actually goals and assists.
See, the scoreboard doesn’t say:
Milan 2 for body language, personality, and work rate. Opponent 1 for body language, personality, and work rate.
The scoreboard says: Milan 2 goals, versus opponent 1 goal.
While I would love to see Leão having all the characteristics you seem to value more, I still value even more the goals and assists that actually decide the games. I’m just crazy this way. I believe in the silly idea that if we score more goals than our opponents, we win the games, even if one of our players scowls rather than smiles. Such an idiot I am, right?
I love Pulisic, but I don’t accept this “have identical number” argument. The most important (and hardest) thing is to score goals, and Lautoro’s contribution to Inter was bigger than Puli’s was to Milan. And it’s not only the numbers, it when they are achieved, and several other things like the amount of resources spent by the other team to defend him.
But I agree. We expect Leao to do more than Pulisic. He’s objectively more talented. But Pulisic has the character (and balls), and his last two goals should maybe make us reconsider. Maybe when we’re stuck he’s the guy to get us a goal out of nothing. Leao should be the bate.
Let’s be thankful for BOTH Puli and Rafa. I am. For me, it’s not important if Puli is better than Rafa or Rafa is better than Puli. I mention these things just to make a point, but I couldn’t care less if by season end Puli has 31 G+A an Rafa “only” 30, or if Rafa has 31 and Puli has 30. They are players with different characteristics and both are very helpful to Milan.
Is Puli really defending by tracking back? How effective is his defending? Most goals conceded came from the right flank. Let the haters of Leao answer the question, Puli plays worst going forward than Leao, Puli is not and will never be a match winner. Leao is a match winner anyway, wether disinterested or lazy, he has the magic
“Puli plays worst going forward than Leao, Puli is not and will never be a match winner. Leao is a match winner anyway, wether disinterested or lazy, he has the magic”
😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀
Even if goals gets more credit they shouldn’t be deemed better than assists as the outcome is the same and an assist certainly can be be more difficult than scoring the goal.
That is actually a good post with good points. You make sense and you see BOTH the bad AND the good, unlike the rabid Leão haters who only see the bad, and even when Leão does well and scores spectacular goals or produces spectacular assists, they still scream that he is LAAAAAAAZY and only got lucky. NOTHING that Leão does, even when he has phenomenal games, satisfies these people. They always find excuses to bash him.
So, no, I don’t think it is only because we expect a lot from him.
Look, I love Puli, but he does have his quiet games too. All players do, even CR7, even Vini (the ones you quoted); hell, even Messi, Pelé, and Maradona. NOBODY can have a phenomenal game EVERY game, not even the greatest players of all time. But tell me, when Puli has a bad game and doesn’t do anything right, do you also see this forum going berserk and calling him LAAAAAAAZY and advocating for Milan to immediately sell him? No, it’s not just the expectation. There is something darker involved in the Leão hatred. I am 100% convinced of it.
By the way, I do NOT in any way, shape, or form, list you, ACM1899, as one of the haters. You are a fine poster and I respect your opinions a lot. I think you are one of the top 3 posters here, in terms of understanding of the game and of the issues. So, when YOU criticize Leão, I listen.
But people like Z??? He seems to spend 80% of his online life here bashing Rafael Leão. It’s excessive and unfair to Rafa.
Now, will Rafa actually upgrade to the next level? Maybe not. Maybe he will have a couple of additional decent seasons, then will decline, and will dedicate his life to fashion and music. If that’s what he wants, he has earned that right. But hey, have you ever thought that if he did upgrade, we’d likely lose him for good and much sooner? We are not among the richest teams in the planet, and if Leão other than scoring and assisting about 30 times per season were also hungrier, participated more, defended and tracked back more, then he probably would have been gone already to greener pastures.
Oh absolutely. I’ve always said that a World Class Leao would not stay at Milan. Unfortunately THIS is the only version of Leao we can afford to keep.
Your argument lacks congruent thoughts n sorry to be brunt ! Lacks a bit of discernment to a degree! If I didn’t know better I would say you have to say u are smitten by Leao n in a very sexual way but pardon me , I digress. The point you have to know “who much is given much is expected n that’s just the way it is. You wanted to be the best paid player on the team, you wanted the 10 jersey won by legends of the team n of course you would like to win things. It just doesn’t come by fluke. That 30 g+ a is a bit exaggerated in my opinion, going missing in numerous games is not a attribute of an elite attacker or forward. As you said he might not ever peak to the standard we all Milan fans love n hold him to, n believe me that’s fine but he should also not think we won’t criticise him when he has a lot of stinkers often than usual. If he performs at the level you are praying in your guts that he does not perform for fear of a bigger club poaching or signing him then I just feel you are an interista disguise as a Milan fan n not really looking for the good of this club. Did Kaka not perform to his optimal ? Did we hate on him when he signed for Madrid a big “No”. We cherished the time he spent with us n the memories cos he put his heart on his sleeve anytime he stepped on the field which your Idol Leao lacks in leaps n bounds. Will will be a weaker team for a while when we loose Leao , maybe but I tell you there are gems in the market who would bite a finger of our scouting n sporting team when they come with a proposal from a prestigious club such as Milan, no player is bigger than club. I think as many people have said he is a Robinho, Aimar, Adriano, Plato and all the Brazilian talents that had so much potential but couldn’t just reach that level of consistency as World class players we talk about. He has reached his ceiling n we are trying to fetch water from a dry well at this point. I usually won’t type this long but you are here with your just baseless glazing without any objective analysis so someone had to tell you. Ps: am not a hater of Leao like that’s your go to address to people who just even said Leao should have pass then shoot cos in your eyes Leao can not do no wrong. Sorry for the epistle or sermon if you care to read but you should cos you really not being on point n is ludicrous
Sorry but when you opened with this RIDICULOUS statement: “u are smitten by Leao n in a very sexual way” I stopped reading you. You don’t deserve my attention.
Have a nice life. I won’t be reading any of your posts in the present or the future.
“But tell me, when Puli has a bad game and doesn’t do anything right, do you also see this forum going berserk and calling him LAAAAAAAZY and advocating for Milan to immediately sell him? No, it’s not just the expectation.”
Simple. Even when he has an awful day, he gives his all for the shirt. You not being able to see the difference just shows your blind love for Leao. You keep criticizing everyone now agreeing with you for “darker hate” and never been happy to see him perform yet you cannot see how the other players will try their best even when it’s not their day. 😀
You more or less summarized Leao’s case. He reached a peak in 2022 and stayed there. A player as young as him with all those physical attributes and talent should normally be able to progress even further, but for Leao it was either stagnation or regression. I don’t know what he has in his mind, but he might be happy with the level he reached and doesn’t see the need to improve.
There was a trend starting from last season where he’d be absent from many games, scores a few goals, gets few assists in some others, manages to “shush” the critics.
The problem though is that a player is more than just goals and assists. I would have been fine with a scoreless and assistless Leao in the derby if he tracked back, defended a bit and was more active offensively as well, but he seemed desinterested. Pulisic doesn’t always score or assist, but you can see him helping the defense and midfield.
So far, he enjoyed the luxury of doing what he does thank to/because of the lack of quality in Milan’s offense and a coach like Pioli who was fine with his general attitude. But now with Pulisic, Abraham and Morata who are good players and Fonseca who seemed to have decided that he will not allow some types of behaviour, things might be heading for a change.
Theo, who is also a superstar and among the top5 or top3 best LBs in the world depending on whom you ask, was also under fire earlier this season, yet, albeit not in a flashy way, he seemed to have regained his composure and demonstrated he can play for the team. Let’s hope Leao does the same.
I tried a long reply to you but the system wouldn’t allow me to. First said I was posting too fast, then said it was a duplicate (it wasn’t). Sorry.
It makes no sense to me how the same people can criticise Leao and praise Reijnders when they both have the same issues but Leao actually has more of an end product and is in a position where he can afford to offer less defensively.
If you’re into technically gifted players you should appreciate both.
If you’re into hard workers one or both might frustrate.
I’m the latter but Leao has on multiple occasions made up for his weaknesses. At least two or three times a game he’ll tear down the left hand side, he contributes goals and assists, and probably creates more space for Pulisic.
In fact one of the downsides of signing Pulisic (who is mostly upside) was it always going to reduce Leao’s contribution and unbalance the side.
For both Pulisic and Leao the pros and outweigh the cons.
I’m waiting to see Reijnders pros outweigh his cons. The Derby was a step in the right direction but there’s a long way for him to go.
TIJI STATS vs INTER
Progressive passes- 8
Progressive Carries- 7
Carries into the penalty area- 2
Distance covered:- 11.145 km (1st 🥇)
Average Sprint Speed- 32.67 km/h (4th fastest)
Touches: 49
Accurate passes: 30/36 (83%)
Key passes: 2
Crosses (acc.): 1 (1)
Long balls (acc.): 3 (2)
Big chances created: 2
Shots on target: 1
Shots off target: 0
Shots blocked: 1
Dribble attempts (succ.): 5 (4)
Ground duels (won): 5 (4)
Aerial duels (won): 1 (0)
But according to the Heir here Reijnders will frustrate you if you look for hard work. Most distance covered but he compares him with Lazy L. And Reijnders leads Milan players in distance covered in most of the games.
Same Heir also said that Reijnders and Fofana were Milan worst performing players vs Inter even though Reijnders won player of the match award even though Gabbia scored the winning goal.
Try keeping your eyes open during games and maybe won’t write ignorant stuff in here after the games.
Great stats…
Progressive carries!
I don’t care for stats, I care for my midfielders seizing control of the game, dictating the tempo, bossing the other team’s players.
Here’s a stat: he got pushed off the ball on the half way line by the Turkish Scum and then Barella.
Here’s a stat: one of his three main contributions (a deflected shot) came from Leao dribbling and setting him up.
Also this character just said that there is a downside In the signing of Pulisic because he is lowering Leao’s goal contributions and UNBALANCE the side.
“Leao has the MOST big chances missed in Serie A this season – (5) 😬🇵🇹
Via WhoScored”
I guess it’s Pulisic’ fault that Leao is a horrendous finisher! His presence on the pitch makes Leao miss big chances and 1v1’s vs the Goalkeepers.
Writing nothing but nonsense.
It’s nobody’s fault.
It’s just basic physics – cause and effect.
Clearly signing a more offensive RW gave a different balance to the side.
On balance I supported Pulisic’s signing but also assumed it was going to negatively impact Leao (and Calabria).
Both Calabria and Leao actually did well in the circumstances.
The real kicker was we also dismantled our midfield, so had a more attacking front three and not cover behind them.
Thus Pioli moved Calabria into midfield and bypassed the rest including everyone’s favourite Dutchman.
Just nonsense bro. People are just so overwhelmed by certain talents because they might know how to kick a ball to save their life
You don’t care about stats because they prove everything you write to be wrong.
No because they carry less weight than lies and damned lies.
You realise one of that stats you pulled is the main thing I criticise Reijnders for!
His ‘progressive carrying’ is what slows down our attacks!
Leao’s ‘progressive carries’ don’t because he’s quicker and more direct.
See stats.
100% agree here. Well said.
@Luigi I fully agree with you the hate is unaccetable he has been our best player since 2021-22
Thanks, Federico. I’m glad to see that some people here still acknowledge how important Rafa is for us.
The hate is just too much from people like Z and BB, Leao has been doing his main function G/A effectively.
Rafa is so lazy that when he is subbed he goes off on his side of the pitch instead going to switch with his teammate like a normal player.
I don’t take what you say seriously. You’re just a hater and one of the most misguided posters here.
Still crusading for Leao? You’re all over this article. Sure ima a hater…whatever you say buddy
You have to either love EVERYTHING about him or you’re a hater. A GODDAMNED HATER!!! There’s nothing in between.
Not true. I just said that I respect ACM1899 for his balanced opinion of Leão, which acknowledges BOTH Rafa’s shortcomings AND Rafa’s strenghts. That’s the in-between you believe I don’t see. I just proved to you that I do; just read my reply to ACM1899, in this very thread. That is, if you can read and actually understand what is being said (that is doubtful, but try hard, maybe you’ll get it this time).
I respect him. I don’t respect you. The reason is, he makes sense and is balanced, and you don’t and you aren’t. Yes, YOU are a Goddamned hater. ACM1899 is not.
Oh, I’m all over this article, talking about Leão non-stop, when the article is… about Leão???
Who would you rather prefer I talked about, in an article about Leão? Hm… let’s see… Kvara, maybe?
Sorry. I will talk about Leão in an article about Leão. The concept seems to escape you, which is again another demonstration of how clueless you are.
I didn’t say I don’t respect your opinion just because you are a Leão hater (although, that, you definitely are). A bigger component of my lack of respect for you, is that you are so often wrong in so many of your ridiculous posts and opinions.
By the way, connecting the dots about our conceded goals: another one of your ridiculous opinions is that the HUGE number of goals we concede, out of full back failures, center back failures, midfield failures, and even Mike at some point was taking in too many goals at the near post, are the responsibility of a forward, Rafael Leão (even though I agree that Rafa is not good at defending and tracking back, there are far more people responsible for the goals conceded than Rafa).
So when Thiaw produces a silly PK, when Calabria or Emerson get badly beaten by the opponent’s left winger, when we leave tall players completely unmarked in corner kicks and other set pieces, when our midfielders lose possession and don’t recover (something we suffer of, since Kessié left), when Mike eats easy shots at the near post (thankfully he has improved again as compared to his lowest point last season), or when our training department decimates our defense with muscle injuries to the point that we run out of center backs and have to displace Theo there, or when we don’t have a decent LB deputy for Theo and need to play the horrible and clueless Terracciano… all that is surely Leão’s fault, and I just need to connect the dots and understand that all the goals we’ve leaked like a sieve are Leão’s fault.
You say so, and you’re not a Leão hater… LOL
Sure, buddy, sure.
When you write more text in 2 comments than the whole article you got an issue. Brah take a chill pill and go touch grass. There’s more to life than simping for leao on sempre Milan.
And no I don’t hate leao. I wish for him to be a superb player, I really want it for him. Unfortunately he’s standing in his way to become what u wish for him…
Now fúck off
“I don’t take what you say seriously. You’re just a hater ”
What are you, 12?
Well… In that case, you blindly love Leao and are unable to see anything wrong with him so I don’t take what you say seriously. 😀 😀 😀
Fine. I couldn’t care less if you take me seriously or not. Do you think I lose any sleep over what some dude in a forum says about me?
As for me being 12, I was probably attending games in a football stadium way before you were born. I don’t know how old you are, but just statistically speaking, I’m likely older than most people here.
And I don’t blindly love Leão. I acknowledge his defensive difficulties but I appreciate his goals and assists. I know that if Leão were closer to being perfect and other than producing great goals and assists in huge numbers like he does, also defended and tracked well, and also had a higher work rate, he simply wouldn’t be a Milan player, because richer teams like ManCity or Real Madrid and the likes, would have snatched him from us (or even earlier, from Sporting or Lille).
Rafa is who he is; a very talented forward with poor defending skills and poor work rate. Precisely because he is who he is (that is, very good but far from being truly great), we can afford to have him, and we can benefit from his 30 goals + assists per season (simply, consistently in the top 3 for this in the entire Serie A).
By the way, if I blindly loved Leão, my most recent Milan jerseys would have his name and number. Nope. The one before last, was Tonali’s. The current one is Pulisic’s (who in my opinion is currently Milan’s best player). I have never owned a Leão jersey. I do like him a lot, just the same way I like almost all Milan players (minus the ones I deem detrimental to the team like Origi) because I’m a Milan fan, a real one.
What I don’t like, is the rabid hatred some supposed Milan fans (are they really Milan fans, or are they trolls who actually support other teams?) express about one of our overall best players, one who is consistently in our top 3 most prolific forwards.
Players have to leave at the closest side now to minimise time wasting. That was a rule change from a couple of years ago.
Nothing to do with his attitude. It just happens to him a lot because he’s often on the far wing.
Rule change was made to prevent teams leading from having subs do a slow shuffle from the far wing in the 89th minute.
Nobody is following that rule if there is one. And the stalling just gets up in extra time anyway
After 5 years fans need to come to peace with who Leao is. 2 different coaches at Milan same issues and same questions are still there. 2 different coaches with the Portugal NT, same issues and same questions are still there.
He is who he is.
You will get around 10 goals and 10 assists, mostly vs the bottom feeders, and he will be absent and non factor vs the top teams or in top competitions and he will go MIA for months at the time during the season. He couldn’t score a goal in serie A for almost 6 months last season.
3 years in UCL, 3 goals scored.
33 games for Portugal, 4 goals.
People compare his numbers to Lautaro’s who is a top 5, maybe top 3 candidate for the Ballon Dor. Not all numbers are the same. Lautaro post his numbers mostly when it matters, while Leao post his just for stat padding.
Trash vs Liverpool, trash vs Inter, but watch him get a goal contribution vs Lecce. That’s his level.
Adjust the standard you are judging him on from what you want him to be to what he actually is and you’ll be good.
There’s zero questions with Leao….
But your post gives away the real issue.
Everyone’s getting itchy feet.
He’s been at the club too long and the ideas of who next sign are swirling around in people’s heads.
Maybe stick to Football Manager and skip to the transfer windows so you can do some wheeling and dealing. Or play the stock market.
Ive tried to tell people that Leao just isnt improving, his shot selection is subpar and his on target percentage is 6-10% lower than top wingers. His workrate from the Scudetto season is worse now also, he used to be at 9km travelled per game with only 30% of that walking now he is at 8km with 48% walking so his movement off the ball is slower and less effective.
Yep, he is who he is. I don’t think he will improve. Likely he will eventually decline and will never be a truly world class winger. But actually the last two seasons his G + A production was higher than in the Scudetto season. What an inconvenient FACT for your attempt at discrediting him, huh? So, you go to stats of km travelled and percentage of walking… but he actually continues to score and assist at the same or better rates than in the Scudetto season. Go figure, huh?
“But actually the last two seasons his G + A production was higher than in the Scudetto season. What an inconvenient FACT for your attempt at discrediting him, huh? ”
That’s because in the scudetto season, we didn’t play in the Europa League.
In 21/22: Leao had 11G+10A in serie A, 1G+1A in UCL, 2G+1A in Coppa Italia, totaling 14G+12A
In 23/24: Leao had 9G+10A in serie A, 1G in UCL, 2G in coppa Italia, 3G+4A in Europa League, totaling 15G+14A. But if you substract the Europa League (where he was mostly decisive against Stade Rennais and a 10 men Slavia Prague), you will get 12G+10A. Not too bad, but certainly not as much as 21/22.
Now of course, in 23/24, the 4-3-3 that we used earlier that season limited his contributions, but the overall level of opposition was weaker than in 21/22.
Good points, but regardless of Europa League, Leão didn’t play a hugely different number of games in the Scudetto season and last season; the difference was only 5 games (51 versus 56). That’s about a 10% difference. The fact remains that his production was similar, in these seasons, all competitions considered. Like, about 7.5% more G+A in a season where he played about 10% more games.
I don’t think you can substantiate a real decline, when the numbers are this close. A real decline would be, say, 30% fewer G+A. 2.5% less than the percentage of more games played? That’s not a decline. That’s grossly staying the same.
I think Rafa will stay the same for another couple of seasons or three before he declines. Unfortunately I don’t think he will improve. He has some structural shortcomings that will probably remain, even if Fonseca does a huge effort with him trying to improve them.
1. His finishing is irregular, with both superb finishing resulting in goals that no goalkeeper could avoid, and shots so off-target that they would risk hurting a fan in San Siro’s upper ring. I hope Rafa doesn’t bring down an airplane taking off from Malpensa, That would be dangerous, LOL
2. Even when he tries, he is not an efficient defender; he doesn’t track back well. Let’s compare two wingers, Rafael Leão and Alexis Saelemaekers. The latter tracks back much better. However, let’s also not forget that the latter is MUCH less efficient than Rafa in terms of goals and assists. Tracking back for a winger is important but is not all. That’s why Leão is still with us and has a release clause of 175M while Alexis is gone. It’s because Leão has been way more helpful to Milan than Alexis, despite the latter’s much better work rate and much better defensive ability.
3. Rafa’s game is made of bursts of speed, cutting through the opponent’s back line to then assist or score. Then, maybe in part because he needs some rest after the big bursts, he tends to walk on the pitch for long stretches.
4. He tends to disappear for long stretches of a game, or even from long stretches of a season.
5. He is not a very mature individual and is prone to tantrums when he shows a poor attitude.
6. His work rate is low. (I think, though, that helping him with his finishing would produce more goals than helping him with his work rate, and would be probably easier to accomplish; so Fonseca, please, get Rafa to train his finishing some more!)
All right, so, many shortcomings. But then, DESPITE these numerous weaknesses, he still produces about 30 scores and assists per season, which is remarkable. In Serie A over the last several seasons (at season end, despite Rafa’s stretches of low production), only Giroud once, and Lautaro once, produced more than Rafa, and just by a hair (essentially tied). He’s been consistently top two in the entire Serie A, for G+A production.
So, me, I acknowledge his weaknesses but appreciate him for what he does well.
“but he actually continues to score and assist at the same or better rates than in the Scudetto season.”
And we’ve conceded twice as many as in the scudetto season. Connect the dots, would you? 🙂
It’s not true that Rafa only scores against bottom feeders, but I’m used to your obfuscation. Anyway, even if you were right, ALL games in Serie A are worth 3 points, and we’ve notoriously struggled against bottom feeders who park the bus. So, if Rafa this season scores more against bottom feeders and earns us 3 points in those games, I’m fine with it. As for the long stretch without goals, that was also a stretch in which he produced several assists. Of course, you’ll conveniently ignore that part.
Like someone said, assists are as important as goals. If you dribble half of your opponent’s defense and set up a companion for an easy tap in, that’s as helpful as scoring a goal yourself.
And, in the SAME season you deplore his production because he went several months without scoring, at season end his total production scores + assists were higher than in the Scudetto season.
Yes, Rafa sometimes finishes atrociously. But also, sometimes he finishes superbly.
Yes, Rafa is an irregular player, but still, his production is good enough and very helpful to Milan, and for the last three years has always at season end been the highest or second highest, so your hatred of Rafa is ridiculous, and your attempts to deny his helpfulness are pathetic.
Did Rafa personally did something bad to you or to someone you care for? Why do you hate him so much? Most of your time here is spent bashing him, and every game you try to find something to fault him, even when he does well. Weird.
The padding , glazing and bootlicking is almost absurd at this point. Leao is better than any winger on the face of this earth. Don’t look at me. Luigi n his goons of “WE DON’T CRITICISE LEAO NO MATTER WHAT CLUB. I have the registration form whoever cares to join.
😀 😀 😀
You can laugh as much as you want, I don’t care; although what you are laughing about is demonstrably false, since I’ve always acknowledged Rafa’s shortcomings, including numerous times in this very thread.
But a troll like you wouldn’t care for facts. You just want to spread your hatred around.
I’m sure you are pretty knowledgeable about registration forms for OTHER teams, because I don’t even believe you are a true Milan fan. I have only needed one registration form in my life: the one I filled for my Cuoro Rossonero tessera. Do you actually own one? You will say you do, but I will suspect you of lying because there is no way you are a true Milan fan, troll.
You berate an obviously Milan fan for defending a Milan player, and you think that because I defend a Milan player, I should register as a fan of other teams. LOL. What a twisted logic!
You on the other hand, spend pretty much the entirety of your online time here, bashing a Milan player. And I’m the one suspected of not being a Milan fan. Sure, buddy, sure.
Oh, and I just realized that the “connect the dots” post about who is responsible for Milan’s conceded goals was actually your ridiculous contribution, rather than that other ridiculous poster flying turtle’s. So, read my response to him about the “connect the dots” ridiculous claim; it applies to you.
Anybody else finding the new ad banner on this site really f@#king annoying?
Between the video you have to close and the now the new ad banner at the bottom of the screen. I typically see 15 to 20 % of the screen. Every time the screen reloads you have to do two clicks before you can read the article.
Your taking the p!$$ Sempre Milan.
People will stop reading and give up on such a bad user experience.
Addblock
You are lazy to irritate, but he is our champion. I want to see Lea scoring goals, providing assists, running and working hard like in the scudetto season. We need Leao. I am sure that he will start playing with the others and will be a fear for any defense. Let’s give him some time.
Maybe it is possible to play without LAM and use two LBs at pitch?
What a bunch of clowns here calling Leao lazy 🤣
Jesus christ i bet more than half of you are just some lard who never played football before.
I rather have Leao attacking with full speed than defending with full speed.
If he had Pulisic’s workrate we’d win titles each year.
Sure, all goals we concede is because one ATTACKER doesnt defend…
Exaggerate much? Everything is black and white, right? Nothing in between? 🙂
So, a guy who said LITERALLY that Rafa was 100% (yes, 100%, no less) responsible for Inter’s goal in the Derby (a goal that happened on the other side of the pitch, with Emerson, Gabbia, Pulisic, and Fofana all involved and all failing to contain Lautaro and Dimarco in that goal), now considers Fries rebuke of your ridiculous position, an exaggeration? LOL.
Who exactly do you think you are fooling, troll?
You and your bs. Check the records, I have NEVER claimed Leao was to blame for the Inter goal. Never. You are imagining things and are full of sh*t.
You and your fairytales.
As soon as he stops trying to be a musician, he will start hitting his prime. His football career is not the main subject of his professional life; that’s his problem.
I couldn’t care less if he enjoys some hobbies in his off-pitch life. The kid is young and likes music. So what? Who doesn’t, at his age? By the way, Emerson Royal does too, and when he joined, he said in an interview that he talked with Rafa about making music together. Somehow, I’m missing your posts hating on Emerson for liking music.
It’s not like Rafa is partying, drinking, womanizing, and beating up girlfriends. He just likes music and fashion. OMG, what HUGE sins, right? (Insert rolling eyes here).
Criticizing him for liking music and fashion just demonstrates how much the haters hate him.
Are you just envious that he enjoys himself off-pitch and makes a tone more money than you do?
I believe you may have misinterpreted or overstated my remarks.
It is acceptable to have a hobby, but not at the expense of one’s primary responsibilities.
If he can consistently perform at a high level, I am unconcerned about his hobbies or habits.
His performance falls short of expectations. Either he lacks talent or he must make sacrifices, such as giving up hobbies, in order to improve. It is his decision. If his performance does not improve, it is only a matter of time before he is traded.
Can you provide real evidence that Rafa has missed training sessions, has been late to sessions or game preparations and so forth, because he was out enjoying his music hobby? Because there isn’t any evidence of the real club officials disciplining him for that. Rafa enjoys his hobbies in his free time, and has never been called derelict by club officials, like some players who party and booze too much have been in various clubs and have been slapped with fines. So your idea that he neglects his football duties because of his hobbies is just YOUR prejudiced fantasy. Provide real evidence or drop your claim, if you can’t. If you do provide real evidence like times and dates when Rafa supposedly didn’t show up to training because of his music and was disciplined by the club, then I will fairly say “sorry, you were right.” If you can’t, then you should be the one saying “sorry, I was wrong.” The ball is on your camp; I’m waiting to hear your evidence.
I invite people here, particularly Z, flyingturtle and bb, to go to MilanNews dot it and read an article there whose title starts with “Mi trovo costretto a ripubblicare un articolo.” You’ll see there how fake the narrative that Rafa wasn’t celebrating the victory in the Derby with his companions is.
The thing is, posters like Z, flyingturtle and bb will always spew hatred at Rafa no matter what Raffa does.
Let’s think of a hypothetical (unfortunately getting there seems unlikely for the current Milan; I wish; but anyway, just to make a point).
UEFA Champions League final. Milan v Manchester City. Rafa scores a hat trick and the final result is Milan 3-2 ManCity; thus Rafa wins for us the game and the title.
Z: “Leão just got lucky. He is lazy.”
bb: “The two goals Milan suffered were 100% Leão’s fault.”
flyingturtle: “Leão should be sold immediately.”
Guys, no kidding. With these three posters, this REALLY is what they would say in such a scenario. Guaranteed.
These three supposedly Milan “fans” (I wonder!) would be very sad at Rafa’s hat trick. They wouldn’t really celebrate the UCL title; they’d be too upset that Rafa’s 3 goals tended to disprove their biased and hateful theories.
And again with the lies and bullsh*t. How original of you to put made up stories here. I guess I’m getting into your head as you have reached the point of fabricating things non-stop. Pathetic. Remember to take your meds. Lier. 🙂
“These three supposedly Milan “fans” (I wonder!) would be very sad at Rafa’s hat trick. They wouldn’t really celebrate the UCL title; they’d be too upset that Rafa’s 3 goals tended to disprove their biased and hateful theories.”
😀 😀 😀 😀
Maaan, you are pathetic. All this “smear campaign” just for people not liking his favorite player’s work ethics. Keep it coming. No one cares. 😀
Actually a lot of people care, as evidenced by others here agreeing that your criticism of Rafa is exaggerated, and even notable past players and journalists lately saying the same (e.g., Kaka).
You call me a liar but in this very thread you said “connect the dots” attributing to Rafa our goals conceded. That post of yours is here for all to read; so who is lying? At least own your opinions instead of calling liars, those who challenge you for them.
As for Rafa being my favorite player, he is not. Pulisic is. If this site allowed for pictures posted by users, I’d post a pic of my Milan jersey with Puli’s name and number.
I’m defending Rafa because he’s a good Milan player, and unlike you, I’m a real Milan fan.
If you were attacking Puli then I’d be defending Puli (or any other helpful Milan player). Since you’re attacking Rafa, I’m defending Rafa. It has nothing to do with who is my favorite player.
“I’m a real Milan fan”
So you’re turning this into a “I’m better than you are” -p1ssing contest. Pathetic.