Stefano Pioli pulls Rafael Leao’s ears
“A little something is missing: he is still young and cannot have the full baggage.”
The World Cup in Qatar is catalyzing the attention of fans and insiders alike, but as the Asian kermesse moves forward-in terms of the calendar we are now at the halfway mark-the return to the field for Serie A teams, scheduled for Jan. 4, 2023, is approaching.
Taking advantage of the break, reigning champion AC Milan coach Stefano Pioli spoke on the popular ‘Sky Calcio Club’ program to talk about one of his players already the subject of daily market rumors: Rafael Leao. The coach from Parma, while acknowledging the great progress of the talented Lusitanian in the last two years, pointed out some deficiencies in his game and attitude: basically what would be missing to be able to call him a confirmed champion.
“If you see Leao’s movements in training you immediately understand that he has incredible potential. He has a technical ability combined with speed that few have. He had to figure out how to develop and learn a new way of working. He came from Lille, but at Milan there are also different pressures. It took him some temppo. He still has to make a leap to be able to become a champion,” Pioli began.
“In the open field he becomes uncatchable, but there are times when we centralize him more, and others when he drops too low compared to what we would like. He is an offensive player, the closer he is to the opponent’s area the better. I always tell him that someone of his physicality can’t not have scored headers at the second post, given even certain right-backs, but we’ll get there. If he goes a few minutes without touching the ball he tends to go down. He can play everywhere and can do everything, he can become even more decisive in the box, but I would like him to get into it with more continuity and determination,” he continued.
“If we think about the Rafa of 2 years ago and the progress he has made, there is something to be happy about. He lacks a little something, like many: he is still young and cannot have the full baggage, but he is intelligent and willing, I am sure he will come to complete himself. My guys have quality, I can give them the ideas, but I also have to give them the freedom to develop actions. Leao has a great baggage of solutions, in the future he will expand it even more,” he concluded.
