AC Milan have become accustomed to winning without Rafael Leao this season, but now Massimiliano Allegri can bring him back into the fold.
As MilanNews write, just a month passed from the defeat against Cremonese to Sunday’s victory against Napoli, yet Milan are a completely different team. Allegri’s side seems to have finally found balance, as well as compactness, defensive solidity and a rather clear identity.
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All this has come without the assistance of Leao, who returned for a cameo against the Italian champions after more than a month out due to injury. The Portuguese’s absence was not felt at all and they may have even benefited from it, taking responsibility and devising other solutions.
Now, however, with the Portuguese’s return, Allegri will have the task of reintroducing Leao into this team without upsetting the established balance.
Leao returns
To cut out any debate, Leao is an undisputed starter in Allegri’s eyes. His pace, his ability to ignite a game in a flash and draw multiple defenders to him (just like he did against Napoli) are essential qualities.
For this reason, the Milan coach will find a way and a solution to reintegrate the former Lille star into his team, even at the risk of disrupting a machine that now seems to be working. Without Leao, the Rossoneri have developed some different mechanisms.
Leao’s introduction could certainly initially create some imbalance, especially in defence, but the No.10 would be a key player in attack against, especially because he could become a lethal weapon in transition.
Milan will soon be able to rely on their star man but he will still need to regain his fitness after a month out. With Juventus on the horizon, it’s hard to imagine him in the starting XI, but the path is clear: he will be brought back in, perhaps gradually, to keep a good thing going.
Milan right now is better without him.
He is so fu**ing lazy!
He was a disaster against Napoli, not moving while Modric at 40 run more than him!
I hope Allegri force him to increase his work rate and be deserved for the spot.
show me you know nothing about about conditioning and post injury form without telling me.
Brother, Leao was out over a month without training, he was put on vs Napoli where it was 10 milan vs 11 napoli players. He played more than he was supposed too, he doesnt have the fitness at the moment straight back from injury to run like he used to. This will take time. Probably 1 whole month of coming from bench and training hard at milanello. Itll be a couple more games until hes back to his fitness level pre injury.
RELAX guy
True he needs more time to recover but his work rate has always been crap. Hes got talent, but has always been too lazy to play defense. Even when hes fit he should be a backup player. He’s overrated, doesn’t like to pass and not good for team morale. I don’t see what all the coaches see in this guy.
That injury he has looks to be more serious than most would assume. A muscle injury like that (especially in the calf) can take months and it’s only be one month for Leao. He’s probably at something like 75% right now, just in terms of the health of the muscle not even conditioning. Let’s not put too much stock into the Napoli match, the fact that he’s stepping onto the field this early is a testament to his work and the medical staff. I still think he’ll start from the bench against Juve but will probably get 20-30 minutes. If he injurers that muscle again, it could be 3 months minimum for him to get back on the pitch. Paying a player 7 million to be out half the year would not be good regardless of how well Milan are playing without him. No doubt, they’ll need Leao anyway, bc Puli will eventually tire and just Nkunku won’t be enough given how much output Puli is giving right now.
Thanks for being constructive
Milan is better with Leao than without him. The challenge to Allegri is how to incorporate him without compromising results (defense and offense). That’s what Allegri gets paid for. I will hold judgement until we play another 3 or 4 games.
Notwithstanding his talent and capabilities, he and Nkunku should start on the bench!
Yes with much respect, we’re very happy to see leao coming back in the team & we wish to see him on his full form ,but my message to him, now,he must understand this season Milan is not like Milan of last three seasons, where the team relayed much on his service ,so this habit of selfishness and laziness must end because the proved it can perform better even without him