Milan, Leao never so strong: he wants 20 goals and takes back the derby

Rafa Leao scores with acrobatics, serves up delicious assists for Theo, sprints on the wing with Celik, his direct opponent in Roma-Milan, clinging to his shorts. And then again: Rafa runs, participates, presses, comes out exhausted by cramps or remains standing on the bench to support his teammates in the final minutes as happened at the Olimpico. Is it possible that all these skills are concentrated in one player? For Pioli yes, but with a clarification: “Leao has superpowers and now he knows that he must make them available to the team”.

resume the derby

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Rafa is a superhero and superheroes have ambitious missions: his is to score twenty league goals to give Milan the twentieth Scudetto in its history. Leao in 20×20 format. The maxi Rafa is actually a goal within reach: in Serie A it’s about climbing another five notches. From 15 goals in 2022-23, to 20 as the next destination. The finish line of the second star, to be pinned on Leao’s cloak, would thus become closer: Rafa has valid helpers, some are old friends, others are new companions ready to support his “mission”. Starting with the derby, which everyone wants to recover.

evolution

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Leao was not born a superhero but he became one: a bit like Cristiano Ronaldo, with whom he will share Portugal’s attack in the matches against Slovakia and Luxembourg, 8 and 11 September, qualifiers for the next European Championship. In his first AC Milan season, Rafa was a “normal” player: standard physique, average or below average performance. Six goals in 31 games. Same number of goals a year later, with the addition of six assists: superheroes are first of all generous. In the following season, Rafa hands the Scudetto to the AC Milan fans: 11 league goals and the title of best player of the tournament. A year ago, however, he was recognized in the Champions League. Today he took another step further: he put his talent at the service of the team. The numbers prove it: Rafa serves his teammates with greater attention. The average of successful passes has progressively risen from 10.74 in 2019-20 to 16.67 today. Passes that also take place in the Rossoneri’s half: an area that he used to rarely visit. Today Leao is of greater support to the team even in the defensive phase: an average of almost five passes per game in his own half against 2.5 in the Rossoneri’s first season. Rafa, in general, is more involved because he touches a greater number of balls: 45 this year’s average, 22 in the first season, 38 up to a year ago. Obviously he is increasingly dangerous: he has doubled the average number of chances created (2.3 today; 1.4 last season), and tripled the number of touches in the opponent’s area compared to his debut. Mathematics is not an opinion: Leao is more incisive and involved than before. Stronger than in the early Rossoneri seasons, more leader than in the year of the Scudetto triumph or the last Champions ride. Pioli confirmed this after the success against Roma, assured by Rafa’s semi-forward kick: “I hope he can score a lot more. He has to keep moving like he’s moved here, he’s been a point of reference for our offensive phase. , once in, once against. Finally he was found in the box after a cross from the opposite ball, every now and then he still forgets to go there… He remains an exceptional player, he must continue like this. His desire and his growth since From a mental point of view it is clear to me that I train him every day. He is a very serene, happy and motivated boy”.

I smiled

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Rafa is a cheerful superhero, and the smile was also an achievement. The bored expression and the slouching gait that Pioli reproaches him for, and which often made Milan fans nervous, has disappeared. Today Leao smiles even before the ball enters the goal and a moment later he shows his tough face. Rafa is more responsible and mature. He knows how to get everyone to agree as evidenced by the video that runs on social media in these hours: at the time of the replacement of Loftus-Cheek with Kalulu, in the last away match at the Olimpico, Theo spreads his arms and asks Pioli for an explanation of the change. The coach replies by miming the gesture of the card: Loftus was booked, otherwise he would have remained on the pitch. Hernandez insists and it is Rafa who eases the tension and gets everyone to agree for the second time. The first had done it with the goal: a touch of a true champion, there is no question.