For better or for worse Raphael Leo seems to be the balance of this Milan: when there is and is in form, as a week ago in Naples, it seems impossible to stop; when he is left on the bench or is subdued, the Rossoneri don’t turn around. Once again, on Friday evening against Empoli, Stefano Pioli’s formation showed itself Leao-addict.
Little clothes
As Corriere dello Sport writes this morning, the real problem lies upstream. There is no adequate replacement for Rafael Leao. Against Empoli two days ago the Portuguese was replaced by Before Rebic, both to recharge the batteries in view of the Champions League and for some ailments that had excluded him from some training sessions. The result was a much more predictable and static Milan, without rings. Just 5 days after the mega performance in Naples, the Rossoneri seemed unrecognizable in the first half and only after Rafa, Brahim and Giroud came on the pitch did they start creating goal chances. Already why the problem of alternatives extends to the entire attack department: if those three aren’t there, the Italian champions start at a disadvantage.
Numbers and Naples
So when Leao is there, practically indispensable for this Milan, things are more likely to go the right way. On the other hand we are talking about a footballer who has only missed two matches in the championship due to disqualifications, being always present in the others; above all we are talking about a guy from 10 gol e 7 assist in A, the best in Milan. Pioli cannot and, to date, cannot handle any type of turnover, at least in attack, at least on the left wing. For this reason, on Wednesday at San Siro, when the Rossoneri will meet again with Napoli in the Champions League, the Rossoneri coach will send all the star players back onto the field. In the league, a week ago, Leao drove the team that is dominating in Italy crazy, the goal is to do the same in the European field.
