A number of AC Milan players stood out on Wednesday night in what was an excellent collective effort to again stop Spurs from scoring an secure a place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
We start with Mike Maignan, who got a 7.5 out of 10 in our player ratings and the title of MOTM: “What. A. Save. It would have been a disaster for Milan to concede that late and the Frenchman really saved them. He was great with his feet as well and commanded the aerial space.”
🦅 Magic @mmseize 🤩pic.twitter.com/ojm7W92OzE
— SempreMilan 🏆 (@SempreMilanCom) March 10, 2023
Malick Thiaw got a 7: “He redeemed himself after the misstep against Fiorentina, more bold this time out with a few good long balls and a sense of calm in possession. Won quite a few duels as well.”
Malick Thiaw vs Tottenham (A)
Harry Kane in the pocket ⛔️
— Milan Comps 🏆 (@CompsACM) March 9, 2023
Tomori got a 7.5 and was the UEFA MOTM: “A lot was written about him before the game, given his previous club, and he really responded well. He was the leader in defence and allowed Theo to push forward a lot.”
Fikayo Tomori vs Tottenham (A)
MOTM @fikayotomori_ 🙌pic.twitter.com/wyBGsIgu6r
— Milan Comps 🏆 (@CompsACM) March 9, 2023
Finally Rafael Leao, who got a 6 but had his moments: “It’s a tough one because he does create a lot for Milan, but it seems like this isn’t really his best position. In any case, his ability to kill time was important in the end.”
Rafael Leão Vs Tottenham (A) @RafaeLeao7
Shots 3
Dribbling 5
Key Passes 3
Touches 34
Acc.passes 80%pic.twitter.com/94FxFF7Wbz— M4rk (@M4rkPhilips) March 10, 2023
Talking about Rafael Leão’s performance, I was looking at stats for the whole team, this season so far. Rafa has the most goals, the most assists, the most shots, and the most shots on target. And still, there are those here who criticize him non-stop. Even though Rafa hasn’t been as good this season as last season, he still leads the team in all stats. He is our best player, period. Once he is inevitably sold, we’ll miss him.
The critics for Leao are quite valids. You see Milan legends like Costacurta who criticized Leao as the worst player in the second leg because Leao doesn’t play like a champion.
Even Messi, Ronaldo, Mbappe, Neymar get criticised when not up to par.
When Leao is criticised constructively, it is fine. Nobody is perfect, and we constantly need to listen to criticism to improve.
The problem here is not the criticism, it is the non-stop constant bashing of Leao without being constructive in the submission.
Some wish we sell him, I’m tempted to think like them so we will all be here to suffer it, do they think we are the AC Milan of old that has money to spend?
Somebody said Leao cannot be our best player, he forgot to mention the price tag for players better than Leao. It’s easy to criticise, let’s sell Leao and sign Mbappe, so there will be peace and we can all rest and forget about him for good.
What Leao needs is a strict coach to improve him as he seem not a naturally ambitious and serious person, and he’s not aware of his potential yet, someone with guts like Gattuso maybe and watch Leao skyrocket.
Ask those calling for Leao to be sold to name his replacement, then you will realise talk is cheap.