GdS: ‘Another chance’ – how everyone is rallying around Leao in a difficult moment

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·31 October 2024

GdS: ‘Another chance’ – how everyone is rallying around Leao in a difficult moment

The Rafael Leao situation continues to dominate the media headlines, and everyone close to him is rallying around him to try and get him out of his slump.

As this morning’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) recalls, one of the best memories from Milan’s recent history is Leao’s run to set up Olivier Giroud for what would be the winning goal of the Champions League quarter-final tie versus Napoli in April 2023.

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Changing times

Yet, 560 days later Leao ended up on the bench against the same opponent, with Noah Okafor taking his spot. He came on for the final half an hour and showed a desire to inspire his team towards a comeback, yet in the end there was nothing doing.

Two nights ago Fonseca limited himself to saying the following on his handling of Leao: “Starting with Leao on the bench and Okafor on the pitch is an option available to the coach. There is no saga.” It’s partly true: without Theo Hernandez, Tijjani Reijnders and Christian Pulisic, the coach aimed for a more solid team, which relied more on the collective and less on individual talent.

Then he added: “Then it’s up to the players to show the right amount of self-sacrifice: I don’t have to pray to anyone.” It’s also true that Leao needs to be more attentive and participatory, but only on the pitch can he demonstrate that he has learned this lesson.

It is likely that Fonseca will call him into question against Monza: Leao is expected to start, a warm-up in anticipation of the Champions League trip to face Real Madrid the following Tuesday night.

Protective bubble

Two nights ago Leao entered the stadium smiling: it was his father Antonio who had arrived in Milan specifically to console his son. Together with other relatives, Leao senior attended the match between the Rossoneri and Napoli, in the hope that Leao junior would also find serenity.

Family rallied around Rafa, who is not having an easy personal moment. Fonseca also continues to encourage him and the idea of using benchings as a motivational tool seem behind him. The club also never lacked its support, dampening any attempt at controversy around him.

Indeed, Milan are convinced that in the long run a high-level Milan cannot exist without Leao, and therefore works alongside Fonseca so that the former Lille star is involved again and made more and more involved.

It was a ‘collective hug’ that Leao seems to have received: on social media he showed himself to be calm. In the last few hours he has published a series of Instagram stories. The first was with his opponent from two nights ago, Lukaku, another with Frank Rijkaard who was a guest at Milanello yesterday and the last, with a lot of heart, together with Theo Hernandez.

The warmth he wants to rekindle more than anyone is that of the fans: even the coldness of the last few weeks has saddened him. Leao needs supporters’ enthusiasm but he also knows he has to fuel it.

A doubt

Fonseca after the match against Napoli did not resolve the doubt: “If we are honest and look at Okafor’s match, we must say that he played well. Leao is working to get back into training, for me this is the most positive thing. It’s difficult to decide at the moment.”

In reality, the final vote gives Rafa the lead over Noah. This is an advantage that he must maintain between today’s training and Friday’s training sessions, in order to ensure that he gets the nod from minute one.

Milan have found themselves in a situation where they realise they cannot do without Leao, while Leao simultaneously knows that he needs to do more to help his team. From Saturday, everyone hopes these needs converge.