Serie A pundit slams ‘irritating’ Leao after Milan’s UEL loss against Roma | OneFootball

Former Serie A striker Aldo Serena praises Roma players who seemed connected by an ‘invisible wire’ against Milan but admits Rafael Leao was ‘irritating’ and didn’t show the right attitude against the Giallorossi.

Serena was one of Sky Sport Italia’s pundits commenting on Roma’s win over Milan at San Siro in the first leg of the Europa League quarter-finals on Thursday.

Rafael Leao and Theo Hernandez were among the most disappointing players at San Siro. The Portuguese star was even booed by some Rossoneri fans when he was subbed off in the second half.

“I must say that Milan incredibly fell short on the left in both phases, attack and defence,” said Serena, a former Inter, Milan, Torino and Juventus striker.

“They showed no grit, and I must say that Leao was irritating to me at times. A couple of times, he didn’t track back defensively. Errors are normal; those who played know this well. However, you must at least show the right attitude and the desire to help the teammates and run.

“Theo woke up late,” continued the former Italy international.

“He changed attitude in the final 15 minutes, creating trouble a couple of times with his forward runs, but it wasn’t enough.”

Daniele De Rossi surprisingly played Stephan El Shaarawy as a right winger, and it turned out to be a key tactical choice as the Italy international helped Zeki Celikm nullify Theo and Leao.

“It wasn’t only Roma’s approach and De Rossi’s intuition of bringing El Shaarawy to the right. It felt like there was an invisible wire connecting the Giallorossi players.”

admitted after the final whistle that he didn’t expect El Shaarawy to play on the right.

raged at a Roma journalist while leaving the stadium.