Costacurta: Leao was more angry at Pulisic than at substitution in Lazio 1-0 Milan | OneFootball

Rossoneri legend Alessandro Costacurta says that Rafael Leao was more angry at Christian Pulisic than he was at his substitution two thirds of the way through Milan’s 1-0 loss away against Lazio on Sunday evening.

Leao reacted angrily when he was taken off after 65 minutes of Milan’s disappointing defeat in the capital on Sunday night and appeared to reject a hug from head coach Massimiliano Allegri on the touchline at the time of the change.

Many have taken the opinion, however, that the Portugal international was most frustrated with teammate Pulisic, who had failed to slip him in on goal just moments before the substitution board went up.

Costacurta reacts to Leao substitution

Milan’s defeat against Lazio means that they have now slipped eight points behind league leaders Inter with nine games of the season left to go, when they could have moved within five points of the Nerazzurri. Reigning champions Napoli are now just one point behind the Rossoneri in third place.

“Eight points with nine games to go is a lot. If I were in that team, I’d start thinking about the other sides behind,” said Costacurta on Sky Calcio Club after Milan’s loss on Sunday night (via Milannews.it).

Costacurta agrees that Leao was naturally frustrated about having to come off with almost half an hour left to play, but that he was probably more frustrated at Pulisic for the lack of passes in on goal.

“I was amazed that despite some excellent shots from Leao, Pulisic never gave it to him. Captain America preferred to give it to others and made that clear. I was making the same gestures as Leao: ‘Give it to him,  give it to him!’

“He wasn’t angry about the sub, but about Pulisic’s lack of pass. I wouldn’t have taken Leao off, I would have moved him.”

Costacurta also agrees that this was a missed opportunity for his old club.

ROME, ITALY – MARCH 15: Christian Pulisic of AC Milan shoots whilst under pressure from Patric and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru of Lazio during the Serie A match between SS Lazio and AC Milan at Stadio Olimpico on March 15, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

“For me, Milan missed a great opportunity to put pressure on the strongest side and see how they would have reacted.

“The first 10 minutes, Lazio seemed really up for it, when Milan should have been. The message you send at the beginning is important for the rest of the game. They also played a decent game, but you can’t just give minutes away.”