Paulo Fonseca’s handling of Rafael Leao has been interesting to watch to say the least, but the signs from the winger suggest things should change.
As Daniele Longo writes for Calciomercato.com, being a coach means being alone and taking responsibility. This is a phrase that applies to everyone, including Fonseca who has made some bold choices with Milan already, such as the benching of Theo Hernandez and then Leao (repeatedly).
It could be argued that his methods with the Portuguese winger worked, because what we have seen in the past few games is a rebirth. It started with an assist and an exciting performance at the Bernabeu, continued with a brace in Cagliari and then last night carried on with a goal vs. Slovan.
The idea of rotation has little or nothing to do with it considering that – out of the big names in the squad – only the former Lille man was left out. Tijjani Reijnders and Youssouf Fofana, for example, continue to start every game without rest.
Leão is a strange player: sometimes he can seem indolent and he must grow to become more consistent. Yet, his response to being benched has been excellent on the field rather than sulking like he could have.
He has been constructive in his attitude, so much so that even yesterday evening he navigated the questions from the journalists well: “Another benching? The coach knows I don’t like it but everything is resolved. I’m always ready to help Milan.”
If being benched against Lazio and Monza were meant to serve as motivational messages in the eyes of Fonseca, the one last night in Bratislava were at the very least strange. It is not as if Noah Okafor is in very good form either, and the gap in quality between the two was shown.
This ‘normalisation’ of Leao cannot do any good to Milan because he is a different player from the others, certainly more important and decisive.
We have a coach who doesn’t know what he is doing and it’s obvious the big boys doesn’t want to play for him cos he is dumb and his tactical acumen is questionable, his choices and selection is always wrong, how can you have a weapon of mass destruction in your arsenal when at war, and keeps him on the bench for who or what?
He knows exactly what he wants to do. Unfortunately for him his way doesn’t work well in serie A, didn’t work all that well in ligue 1 either.
And our players are not a good fit for his way.
And anyone who still thinks there is some discord between the coach and players is a m0r0n with zero understanding of human behaviour
It could also be player maintenance. The article cites Reijnders and Fofana as always starting, so it couldn’t be rotation, but the writer forgets there are ZERO options to Reijnders and Fofana. Well, I guess there is Musah, but for some reason none of the coaches he’s had at Milan like to play him in the middle. Meanwhile, we have Okafor as a sub for Leao. Yes, he’s been mediocre when he’s gotten a chance, but that actually speaks to the fact that Leao still actually starts most matches. We are playing a game every 3-4 days for the next month, and perhaps Fonseca decided to rest Leao in the CL, given our good position there and that Slovan isn’t supposed to be a big problem, so that he can be 100% for Empoli, where we NEED to win. It could be just that simple. He’s been in good form for the past 4-5 games.
The ones with the most minutes in the team have no one to truly sub in for them…Theo, Tijji, Fofana. At least Pulisic and Leao have subs for their positions
So my comment was removed for pointing out that this article makes no sense and contradicts itself. No insults, no foul language. Meanwhile the most vile toxic insults are allowed on here as long as they are directed at management and ownership. Way to go Oliver. Keep the censorship going.
Oh no people criticize a billionaire and some managers doing the poorest job in football right now, life is so unfair. Whine and cry kid
No the management didn’t work. No Leao wasn’t giving a ‘response’ to being benched; he’s simply doing his thing, the way he has always done. If you play him, he will most likely make an impact.
Don’t whitewash this manager’s egotistical approach to managing a big club. He benched Leao and wanted to break him, it backfired, and then he started playing him again. There was no genius management involved.
Exactly what was on my mind to say💯