La Gazzetta dello Sport wrote that Rafael Leao ‘disappeared’ against Sassuolo and only five Milan players were up to the task at the Mapei Stadium, according to Italian media.
The Rossoneri picked up a 0-0 draw in Reggio Emilia, where they had won the Serie A title only three months earlier. It could have been a much worse afternoon for Stefano Pioli’s men if Mike Maignan hadn’t saved Domenico Berardi’s penalty in the first half.
The France goalkeeper was the best Milan player on the pitch and one of the few up to the task against Sassuolo, according to Italian sports papers. The ex-Lille goalkeeper was rated 7/10.
Simon Kjaer, Fikayo Tomori and Theo Hernandez also got passing grades in this morning’s Pagelle. The other defender, Alessandro Florenzi, was rated 5 by Tuttosport and Il Corriere dello Sport and 5.5 by Gazzetta as he was responsible for causing the penalty kick for the Neroverdi.
Sandro Tonali replaced an unconvincing Tommaso Pobega in the first half and was rated 6/10 by the three main sports papers.
It’s the same rating as Ismael Bennacer and Junior Messias on Gazzetta, while Tuttosport and Corsport rated both players 5.5.
The most disappointing player was probably Rafael Leao, who ‘disappeared’ at the Mapei Stadium, wrote Gazzetta.
“He must step up when his team struggles,” added the pink paper that rated him 5/10, same as Corsport.
Alexis Saelemaekers was also highly disappointing and the worst player on the pitch, as per Il Corriere dello Sport.
“He didn’t contribute to the attack and was partially responsible for the penalty kick. The substitution was inevitable,” rating: 4.5.
Leao finished strongly last season to help them win the league, but like many wingers, vanishes quite a lot.
He can change games for Milan, but if they were to get a crazy offer from the epl, he might be worth selling
Marathon not a sprint but can’t understand how Saelemaekers is still a Milan player. If Milan do anything this week it has to be business to replace him.
I have been saying this for so long. Leao doesn’t have the attitude of a champion and might end up not being one, Maldini collect Chelsea’s money very fast in case they come knocking on the door for him again.
Only thing I disagree with there is Pobega, thought he was quite good in the first half. He seems to naturally make runs forward from midfield which our other options don’t really do.
Leao was brutal again. Letting it go to his head maybe. Let’s see if he turns up against Inter.
I think a bad day could happen. We need to calm down. The rotations took something out of the team and I don’t like changing the team too much but looking at the fixture list at this point it’s impossible to do without heavy rotations.
Leao is a complete mystery. Sometimes it looks like he can overrun anyone, but after making a mistake he looks like lazy and reluctant. Attitude is everything. Put Zlatan to talk him 1 on 1!
The good news is, our game plan is so good that we are in domin.ating even the better sides in Serie A like Atalanta and Sas.suolo on their turf, and they have no choice but to defend with numbers for a draw. The most important thing is not losing and conceding goals, which we managed. The rest will come.