CM: ‘Not just in words’ – Milan need a leader’s performance from Leao against Inter | OneFootball

AC Milan face Inter tonight in the Coppa Italia semi-final second leg, and Rafael Leao will be called upon to cultivate the last European hopes.

As Calciomercato.com write, Milan are entering the last 10 days of April with only one objective to play for: the cup. They have been out of the Scudetto race and Europe since January, they are light years away from the Champions League zone and currently out of contention for the Europa League and the Conference League spots.

Sergio Conceicao’s team therefore cannot fail against Inter, because it is effectively the last chance to avoid a disastrous campaign. Beating the Nerazzurri would mean reaching the final in Rome on Wednesday 14 May, most likely facing Bologna, and winning that would mean a UEL spot.

For Milan it is much more than a do or die game, because eliminating Inter would mean making a season less bitter that has known only one joy, the success in the Supercoppa Italiana in Saudi Arabia against Simone Inzaghi’s men.

Even if they are tired and bandaged up, Inter still have more than Milan, who will have to find their best version to move forward. Translated, all their big names must perform at their best, including Leao, perhaps the most talented player in the squad, certainly one of the most inconsistent.

After Sunday’s defeat against Atalanta, the Portuguese was clear: “The Coppa Italia is a competition to be won and it’s a derby, there’s not much to say. You have to go in with the right desire to win because a derby is always a personal matter. And then get it into your head that it’s a competition to be won.”

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Milan need Leao to be a leader. A driving force, not just an added value. The former Lille player has shown in his Rossoneri career that he knows how to hurt Inter (three goals and three assists), despite them being the team against which he has lost the most games in his career (10).

The ‘away’ factor could help him: this year, between the league and cups, he has scored 11 goals, 8 of them away from San Siro. On Wednesday, Milan will not be the home team, something that they will be aware of after kick-off.

Just as Leao is aware that this year he has scored only one goal against the big teams, in the stormy night in the capital against Lazio on August 31st . If Milan wants to go all the way, they need Leao to finally take the team by the hand and show that he has become an example to follow.