It was mainly Rafael Leao who took care of that last night at the Artemio Franchi against Fiorentina, in the thirtieth matchday of the Serie A league, becoming the true star of the evening.
La Gazzetta dello Sport this morning reports Rafael Leao's words at the end of the match. Statements that show us a different, matured player: "I am here with my heart, Milan is my home and thanks to this club I have become a man. In the future, I want to win something important, the Europa League is one of them."
Important words for the future but also to understand Rafa's growth in recent years. The Portuguese has become both the technical and moral leader of this team. And Stefano Pioli himself, thanking him, confirms it: "Rafa is almost there today to become the champion I always thought he could become. Now he also has leadership."
Yesterday he reached his 200th appearance with Milan and to honour it, he seemed to want to go at 200 miles per hour, as La Gazzetta dello Sport describes.
On the field, he was unstoppable: first, he invented an assist with his heel for Loftus and then he burned Fiorentina's defenders and goalkeeper, entering the goal with the ball, for the 2-1 goal. All this with less than perfect condition after a bad tackle by Quarta at the start of the match.
As explained by Stefano Pioli, today Leao has also acquired an important level of leadership. And last night, beyond what he did on the field, the Portuguese also showed it in his words. He dedicated a thought to Samuel Chukwueze, who started yesterday and had an excellent performance on the right flank: the number 10 wanted to compliment his teammate who had a difficult season so far. And then the gestures from a big heart: a bit of the wristband he wears, given to him by a child; a bit of the shirt given yesterday to a child with a sign, at the time of substitution. Returning to the field and Chukwueze, with a Leao in this form and if the Nigerian maintains this performance - also considering Pulisic who is now a certainty - Pioli for the end of the season can count on three very important assets that could make the difference to close the Champions League discussion in the league and to attempt to win the Europa League.
