Tuttosport talked about AC Milan's situation in this morning's print edition. After the goal in the Coppa Italia against Atalanta, now in the league, Rafael Leao must to take on the role of absolute leader of his team.
The Portuguese forward has been experiencing a goal drought in Serie A since September 23rd (113 days to date), when with a solitary sprint and wearing the captain's armband for the first time, he decided the home match against Hellas Verona.
That was the third - and so far the last - goal scored in the league by Rafa, who then found the way to the opponent's net in the Champions League (against Paris Saint-Germain) and then in the Coppa Italia against Cagliari (goal for the 4-1) and, as mentioned, in the Wednesday night match against Atalanta, who later emerged as winners and secured qualification to the semifinal.
The various tactical mutations of Milan cannot ignore a fundamental concept: when in difficulty, the ball is passed to Rafael Leao, and it is hoped that he invents something. It is the destiny of leaders, number 10s, champions who must take their teammates by the hand when the fog obscures collective thinking.
Leao will have to do it; against Roma at San Siro, he turned his season around during the 2021-22 campaign when, assisted by Ibrahimovic, he scored the decisive goal for the 3-1 victory, giving Milan an important win in what would later become the journey to the 19th Serie A title.
Today, it is difficult to think that the Rossoneri can catch up with the trains of Inter and Juventus, but there is a need to string together a series of results, even against important opponents, to bring consistency and lift the spirits of a fanbase that has been on a rollercoaster in recent months.
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