Alessandro Costacurta says Milan played ‘much better’ after Rafael Leao was subbed off against Atalanta and believes the Rossoneri are ‘no longer a group of 11 players’ when the Portuguese is on the pitch.
Milan legend Costacurta was highly critical of Leao after the Rossoneri’s 1-1 draw against Atalanta on Tuesday.
Leao started the game, but was subbed off at halftime, and the former defender saw an improvement in the Milan performance in the second half of the game.
Costacurta criticises Leao after Atalanta 1-1 Milan
“Milan played much better without Leao,” Costacurta told Sky Sport.
“Milan conceded four goals in three games with Leao as a starter. When Leao was subbed off, Milan didn’t concede. It’s a fact that will cause discussion because with Leao, Milan are no longer a group of 11 players.”
Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri said after the game that Leao had a little issue in his hip, so he had to be subbed off as the team needed “fresh legs” in the second half.
Leao’s Milan stats this season
Leao only made his Serie A debut at the end of September, having taken nearly two months to recover from a calf injury he suffered in the first competitive game of the season against Bari in Coppa Italia on August 17.
The Portuguese forward has started in the last three Serie A games and has collected four goals in six appearances across all competitions this term.
He is right.
Leao has never developed his game. He keeps making the same errors as he did years ago. Playing ri5ky balls back into his own pen area while it is full of Atalanta players, playing hollywood flicks inside his own half. He is not ri5k aver5e, never quite knows how to hold up a ball and only relea5e it when keeping possession is a priority and too often of cour5e offers nothing out off the ball.
It is important to add that he wa5n’t the only one giving the ball away needle55ly e5pecially in the fir5t half. The entire team did it.
For a 15 minute period in the 2nd half when L.Cheek and Nkunku were on the pitch, Milan looked much better. They were combining well, pu5hing the team further up the pitch, and confidence began returning to players like Fofana, who can regrettably look awful when backs are again5t the wall. Tomori is another one looks like he is playing for the other team. How he is 5till at Milan is beyond me. De Winter needs to 5tart regularly.