GdS: Conceicao ready to disband the ‘Four Aces’ – Leao heading for substitute role | OneFootball

The ‘Fantastic Four’ may well be consigned to being a brief experiment, as a report claims that Sergio Conceicao is planning further tactical changes.

As this morning’s edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) writes, elimination from the Champions League at the hands of Feyenoord and the defeat against Torino have seriously complicated Milan’s season.

What’s more, in these three matches the ‘Fab Four’ managed to score one goal in 168 minutes together, which was Gimenez’s after less than 40 seconds of the return leg against Feyenoord at San Siro. It is not enough, despite the fact that the chances created have increased.

Conceiçao still believes in the comeback to get fourth place, but barely any more mistakes are permitted. Thursday’s game in Bologna is big and balance will be needed, so much so that there is the thought of changing the attack, and the number one suspect to miss out is Leao.

The issues

In Turin the Portuguese winger remained in the dressing room at half-time, after a listless 45 minutes, not returning to the bench even to see his team-mates in the second half.

What requests from Conceiçao were not met by Rafa? The usual ones: Leao didn’t press or track back when he lost the ball, and helped the team too little in the defensive phase. These are more or less the same accusations that are always levelled against the No.10.

In a more prudent side Leao’s work rate (or lack of) can be covered by his teammates or isn’t exposed as much. However, in the four-man attack he cannot drift out of the game especially while making minimal impact going forward. Thus, he risks losing his spot for Thursday.

Impact man

It wouldn’t be for the first time in 2024-25, either. Under Paulo Fonseca and Conceiçao, Leao has started on the bench on nine occasions, then coming on as a substitute in eight and becoming a super sub of sorts.

The only match in which he was left to watch for 90 minutes was the 1-0 win against Udinese at San Siro, with Milan down to ten men from the first half due to the red card given to Reijnders, so it was more situational.

In at least five of those games, he made his mark with a goal or an assist. From the first against Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico (the equaliser to make it 2-2, followed by the cooling break) to the most recent against Verona at San Siro (assist for Gimenez’s winner).

In between came the goals against Empoli and Slovan Bratislava, plus the decisive assist to Tammy Abraham in the Supercoppa Italiana final in Riyadh against Inter. Leao is a problem for the opposing defences during the match, because his speed targets the space that opens up and the tired legs.

It is clear that there is also the other side of the coin: it is not easy to get a star like Leao – who is also the highest paid player in the squad – to accept the bench, especially in a problematic moment like Milan’s current one.