It has perhaps already been said enough at this point, but AC Milan are a different team with and without Rafael Leao in the line-up.
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This morning’s edition of Tuttosport (via PianetaMilan) writes that Milan have failed to win in six games this season in which Pioli left Leao out of the starting line-up, with only one win: against Monza away in October.
For the rest of the games, the former Lille star was spared due to rotation needs in view of Champions League commitments or in conjunction with midweek rounds, but the decision never paid off and the Rossoneri looked worse without him.
He came on away against Torino withMilan trailing 2-0 and against Salernitana at San Siro after Dia had just equalised, while he also came off the bench against Cremonese in midweek but failed to fire the team to a win.
The Portuguese forward has directly participated in 26 of the 68 total goals scored by Milan this season in all competitions, yet he did not start in seven out of 33 games, in which Milan obtained just 7 points out of 21 available.
