Rafael Leao’s performance against Udinese was certainly a mixed bag, struggling to find a way through at times while also being the only hope for AC Milan. Taking a look at the stats, it’s clear where things went wrong.
Given that Milan lined up with a 4-4-2 formation, which was almost a 4-2-4 at times, Leao didn’t have as much support from the midfield. Instead of his usual 1v1 tricks, he focused more on finding the two strikers in the box.
As highlighted by today’s edition of Gazzetta dello Sport (via SempreMilan), he was the player with the most crosses on the pitch (11). However, he also ended up losing the ball a whopping 25 times, which can be compared to Udinese’s Isaac Success (13).
The feeling is that Leao could have been used in a better way, as crossing has never been his main strength. Cut-backs and crosses near the byline are what Milan want, not early crosses and a lack of 1v1s.
Then, of course, the Portuguese winger himself must improve as he’s not very successful in the 1v1s at the moment either.
Misused? Not Pioli’s/teammates’ fault if Leao opted to whip in a mindless cross without even looking if there was anyone in the box to receive it. I counted two crosses that found a Milan player (Florenzi’s Bergkamp-trick & Giroud’s “header” in the dying minutes). Rest of the crosses were nowhere near own players.
“money ball” and “china” come to mind
Yes summed it up brilliantly,,crosses were simply not good enough,,the fact is you can have as much of the ball and possession ,but unless you actually put in crosses accurately than it’s useless..one decent cross was put into Oliver Giroud in the whole match ,in which to be fair to him , he produced a good header ,which brought a fine save out of the keeper ..
I think too much is expected of Rafeo leao ,,who incidentally looked the only one who could create something…our midfield appalling …
Yes I would give Rafeo leao ,,man of the match .
Yes even he was poor ..just sums up the rest of the team . TO me these results always seem to follow the international games ..I could not believe we would lose to Udinese…That said the penalty should never have been given …
I just hope miraculously we can get a result against PSG …
Leao’s undoing will be his cavalier disposition when the chips are down. The difference between good and great is that one moment of inspiration when the team needs it most. The poor crosses, the lost balls, the aimless passess just don’t cut it. He has some way to go to be counted at the round table of knights (Kaka, Savecivic, Gullit, etc…)
Has Leao suddenly forgot how to play football, or has his manager stopped playing to his strengths (playing him as an old fashioned left midfielder against a team that were there to be ran at, for example)?
I know which one I’d rather keep.
Firstly, Pioli is the first problem of the team, with all the stupid formations he has been using without proper players for each position, his best formation is 4-2-1-3. Since the start of the season, he never tried this formation from start to finish. All Milan midfielder doesn’t know their position every nobody wants to score. They hardly do square play. Almost all the team had injuries and most players are going too hard on LEO but the reference is not protecting him that very bad, Leo is still the best team player in that team with Tomori, music, Calabria…. Thiaw is the worst defender in that team… I was just wondering how people studied the best quality in defence. He doesn’t know how to cover up or recover from mistakes. The painful part is when he makes mistakes the place goes on to the next person behind him, he was the reason Calabria couldn’t go forward that much try to observe that in every game, thaw can’t run, can’t stop 1v1 without foul the opponent, his strength is area ball very lazy defender, he doesn’t know how to block ball. To pioli who is Milan attacking midfielder?
Stats can show you misusage unless it’s a heat mapmor similar. That’s down to coaching, sorry to say