Milan star Rafael Leao was rated 4/10 by all Italian sports papers that blamed the Portugal international for two ‘crucial’ errors in the first half.
Leao was subbed off during the break after a disappointing performance at the Stadio Grande Torino on Sunday night.
The Serie A champions suffered their second defeat in Serie A this season, days before a crucial Champions League clash against RB Salzburg.
All Italian sports papers rated Leao 4/10, with the 23-year-old resulting as Milan’s worst player in Turin.
Gazzetta, Tuttosport and Il Corriere Dello Sport highlighted how Leao wasted two ‘huge’ goal-scoring opportunities in the space of six minutes.
‘His errors cost Milan the win,’ wrote Il Corriere Dello Sport, while Gazzetta wondered ‘where his head was.’
Pioli explained Leao’s early substitution in a post-match interview with DAZN:
“I wanted to change something, seek more movement off the ball, vivacity and the push of Sergino Dest rather than Pierre Kalulu. I looked for different characteristics in the strikers.
“It certainly wasn’t his best evening, that was fairly obvious. We started better in the second half but then needed to get a goal back a bit earlier. It’s a pity, as this is a defeat that hurts.”
Milan now sit third in Serie A, six points behind leaders Napoli and one below second-placed Atalanta.
On Wednesday, they host RB Salzburg at San Siro in the final Champions League group stage game when a draw is enough to qualify for the Round of 16.
Leao can have a bad game. It is tomori who is sleep walking to an entire off season.
Milan need better quality players to compete with Leao. They need to invest more to get players like Cody Gakpo and Gustav Isaksen. They also need to get rid of players like Rebic and Messias. This Milan squad is weak. No competition for Leao, Giroud or Diaz. So they will always play more and with that comes fatigue and a lack of concentration.
Wow! He had a bad game. He must be human after all. He needs a hand from the likes of Diaz and De Ketelare.
He did cost them the game. He’s clumsy by missing 2 open sitters like that. Physically very strong but still has the mind of a child.