GdS: ‘Back to the wall’ – why Leao risks losing starting spot after Conceicao’s warning

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·7. Februar 2025

GdS: ‘Back to the wall’ – why Leao risks losing starting spot after Conceicao’s warning

The arrivals of Santiago Gimenez and Joao Felix have excited the AC Milan fan base, but for Rafael Leao an important wake-up call has arrived.

La Gazzetta dello Sport speaks of Leao being ‘against the wall’. If up until now it was difficult for Milan to do without his class and his quality (Paulo Fonseca tried with mixed results), with the two reinforcements have given further solutions.

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Sergio Conceicao has now made it clear he is working towards a 4-4-2 formation as he used at Porto and in this the wingers are crucial. Joao Felix can drop behind Gimenez in the defensive phase but the wide men must provide adequate cover.

Christian Pulisic has shown that he can do this since day one of his arrival, but Leao on the other hand has yet to acquire this attitude. Stefano Pioli and Fonseca failed in their mission to instil it in him, now it’s up to Conceiçao to try to convince him. And it’s not a given that he’ll use good manners.

A strong message

On Wednesday night Conceicao made his thoughts very clear after the game regarding the No.10: “Leao can do much more because he has incredible quality and is a player of another level. He has to work hard even when he doesn’t have the ball because he plays in a collective and has to make himself available to the team. Getting out of your comfort zone is not easy, but for me it is essential.”

Compliments interspersed with pleas, because Conceicao knows that having a Leao that is focused only on the attacking phase can turn into the Achilles heel of his Milan and blow up the tactical plan he has in mind.

The former Porto coach is aware that his compatriot will never be able to transform himself into a full-back, but he still needs him to actively participate in the pressing phase, not to arrive late on the opponents’ ball circulation, to sprint to cover the full-back’s insertion and above all not to be apathetic if he loses the ball.

Translated: in the latter case, he is forced to fight to recover it and return immediately. Because Fofana and Reijnders in the middle guarantee a decent interdiction, but the blanket risks being short anyway if the four attacking players that Sergio wants to deploy will not give their contribution.

Gimenez showed pace and desire even if he is not in top form, Joao Felix was busy in the half hour he was on the pitch and Pulisic is a soldier used to giving a hand to his team-mates. The doubt remains about Leao who must change his style. Or, if you prefer, apply himself more in the non-possession phase.

The alternatives

On Wednesday, Conceiçao started with a 4-3-3 formation, which he has used almost always since he arrived in Milan. Then, in the last half hour – with Gimenez and Joao Felix – he switched to a 4-4-2 with the two new signings up front.

To balance the team, with Rafa on the pitch, he placed Musah on the right flank, but it is impossible to think that he could do without Pulisic, the season’s top scorer with 12 goals ahead of Reijnders (on 11).

If Leao does not start defending, the two Americans could play on the wings (Musah on the right and Pulisic on the left) or Felix could move out to the left with Pulisic as attacking midfielder and Musah on the right. There are also the options of Chukwueze (for the right flank) and Jimenez, on both flanks.

In short, there are options to replace the former Lille man: if he does not listen to Conceiçao, the bench he has already tasted with Fonseca is ready for him. The Coimbra-born coach doesn’t have much time to make him understand what he expects from him either.

At least until the end of February, the Diavolo will play every three days between the league (including the rescheduled Bologna game) and the Champions League. In this case, after all, there is no particularly complex movements to understand or memorise. Rafa just has to work harder.