Leao: Conceicao ‘ready to die’ for Milan players, I ‘try to do the same’ | OneFootball

Rafael Leao admitted Milan players are ‘starting to understand’ Sergio Conceição’s requests, as he revealed the new Rossoneri manager urges him to ‘always stay switched on’ and is helping him grow ‘as both a man and a player’.

The Portuguese star delivered an excellent performance against Girona, scoring the winner to propel his side into the Champions League top eight for the first time since the beginning of the league phase, with their chances of directly qualifying for the last 16 now depending only on them.

MILAN, ITALY – JANUARY 22: Rafael Leao of AC Milan scores his team’s first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD7 match between AC Milan and Girona FC at Stadio San Siro on January 22, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Milan immediately bounced back from their first defeat under Conceição, who is trying to shape a new mentality, and Leao was particularly pleased with his side’s ability to defend ‘as a team’ in the second half, despite Girona’s attempts to push for an equaliser.

Leao: Milan doing ‘incredible job’ and ‘starting to understand’

“It’s a joy to play with this jersey and in the Champions League,” Leao told Amazon Prime Video after the match.

“We’re doing an incredible job; this was a very important match to advance, and we’re happy with how things went. The atmosphere in the locker room is great, and we’re starting to understand what the coach wants from us.”

Asked to comment on Conceição’s impact and his differences with former coach Paulo Fonseca, Leao explained he’s mainly working on the players’ ‘mentality’.

“They are different coaches,” the forward said.

“The most important thing today is the mentality—we must always stay focused. He never lets me off the hook and asks me to always stay switched on. In the second half, we defended as a team, and we managed to hold onto the lead.

MILAN, ITALY – JANUARY 22: Sergio Conceicao, Head Coach of AC Milan, gestures during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD7 match between AC Milan and Girona FC at Stadio San Siro on January 22, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

“He’s trying to help me as both a man and a player, and I’m trying to understand what he wants. He’s the kind of person who would be ready to die for his players, and I try to do the same.”

The Portugal international scored his third Champions League goal in a row after only netting three times in his first 24 appearances in the competition before this streak but insisted he’s always fully committed.

“I always try to give 100% for the team,” he concluded.

“Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. Today it went really well, but it’s thanks to the team—it went well.”