Leao insists spirits remain high despite Cagliari draw: “Everyone is together” | OneFootball

AC Milan winger Rafael Leao has admitted that they ‘had to win’ against Cagliari last night, but wasted big chances to do so.

The Rossoneri were unable to take advantage of Juventus and Lazio also drawing, with the Supercoppa effect having worn off quickly as they dropped points to a team inside the bottom three.

Alvaro Morata had given Milan the lead in the 51st minute and that looked like being the decisive breakthrough after a first half of toil, but then Zortea equalised for the visiting side a few minutes later.

Tammy Abraham missed a couple of big chances to make himself the hero again after Monday’s final in Riyadh, and 1-1 it would stay. Leao spoke to Milan TV after the full-time whistle to try and analyse what was a frustrating night from a result point of view.

Rafa, how do you assess the game?

“We obviously had to win. In my opinion it wasn’t our best match, but we didn’t lack attitude and will. We lacked the goal, the ruthlessness. We created two/three big chances in front of the goal but we didn’t manage to score.

“Then they [scored] on the counterattack… they tried to hurt us like this throughout the match and in the end they scored. But we have to continue to fight, work, the team is doing well, they have the right mentality.

“The team spirit is very good, everyone is together, those who play as starters, those who start from the match, and so we can expect good things in the future.”

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Milan must improve in front of goal especially in these types of matches where the opponents are very deep…

“Yes, yes. When we get in front of the goal we have to score. Score 2, 3 goals and [put] the opponents behind. Because like this there is no space and they do not have the possibility of having the ball. But that’s how it is… [We must] Raise our heads, continue to work and think about the next match which is in a few days.”

Whether you win or draw, there is a huddle at the end of the game to unite the group…

“When the coach arrived it was like this. The group must always stay together, when we win, when things aren’t going well, and this strength will lead us to win important things, to reach our goals in the league.”

Is it a good thing to go play Como right away to redeem yourself?

“Yes, of course. Against Como we have to give the right answer, come in, give 100% from the first minutes and look for the victory.”