GdS: ‘Dressing room united’ – how Real Madrid win rekindled Leao and Fonseca’s relationship | OneFootball

Winning big games always has a positive impact on morale, and the feeling after the Real Madrid game is that it could light a new spark for Rafael Leao.

La Gazzetta dello Sport speak this morning about the relationship between Leao and the head coach Paulo Fonseca. The pair never seriously argued, but after incidents like the cooling break and the fact the winger has been benched a fair bit recently, things have not been idyllic either.

The piece is titled: ‘Peace for the comeback. Fonseca and Leao together for a #ACMilan… worthy of the Scudetto. Paulo and Rafa are closer after the victory in Madrid. The dressing room is united: tomorrow in Cagliari the chase for Napoli and Inter begins’.

The 3-1 victory against the European champions – with Leao a big protagonist on his return to the line-up – could really be the new starting point. Not only in the story between Fonseca and Rafa, but more generally for all of Milan.

The Rossoneri players themselves have spoken about it among themselves. The common thought is that a win in Cagliari tomorrow will allow the team to aim decisively for the Scudetto. It is a sort of collective pact to change pace and immediately start the comeback in the league.

This is despite the fact that the league leaders Napoli (with one game more played) are now eight points away and there are five other teams in between, including the reigning champions Inter. However, Inter play Napoli this weekend, while in Madrid the Rossoneri became aware of their strengths.

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The optimism at Milanello is also based on the numbers, which show a team on the rise. Dividing this first part of the season into three blocks – the first until the September break for the national teams, the second until the October break and the third which will stop after the away match in Sardinia – Milan have risen.

First block: two draws and one defeat, average points per game of 0.66. Second block: three wins and three defeats, average points per game of 1.5. Third block: four wins and one defeat for now, average points per game 2.4.

A last effort must come against Cagliari, to then decisively accelerate from the end of November to New Year’s Eve. That will be the the fourth block, one which could also mark a decisive leap forward in the Champions League, given Slovan Bratislava and Red Star are to come.

As Fonseca himself admitted, repeating performances like the Real Madrid one in Serie A – for tactical reasons – is sometimes complicated. There is less space, and opponents tend to play deeper while giving Milan less time to play.

The team want to believe though, because they have all the qualities to do so, especially if Leao were to consistently confirm the levels admired against Los Blancos. Rafa himself knows it, motivated by the coach even in his post-match comments.

“Leao is good, but he can do even more, be even more decisive in the final metres,” Fonseca said. It is not a criticism, but a certificate of esteem. The coach knows that Rafa has the means to always and in any way determine games against anyone.

It only depends on his mindset, concepts that the former Lille boss repeated to the former Lille forward in person on Tuesday night, during the celebrations after the Champions League win.

In an interview last night Leao spoke of his love for Italy and how it is the perfect place for him, words that do not suggest any desire to move elsewhere despite the rumours. Now the mission is simple: continue from Tuesday and become the undisputed star again.