Rafael Leao reveals Stefano Pioli has been working with him in extra training to improve his aerial capabilities, so is very pleased to finally score a header for Milan against Lecce. ‘I ought to be better.’
It has been quite the week for Leao, who set up the goal for Olivier Giroud against Napoli to book their Champions League semi-final spot, then again ran from his own half to complete a brace in the 2-0 Serie A victory over Lecce.
“I always try to do what I did today for Milan, so if I don’t score, provide an assist or help my teammates. The most important thing today was to win, as it had been a while since we won a Serie A match,” Leao told DAZN.
“The second goal was good, it’s difficult against teams like Lecce to break them down. We scored in the first half and that opened up some spaces. The win allows us to climb the table.”
He had not scored at San Siro in the League since November, so this also broke a long domestic drought for the winger.
“It was wonderful, I had been thinking about it before the game that I had to score today. It is always great to score at San Siro in front of these fans.”
The opening goal was only his second header in 39 competitive Milan goals and curiously the other was also against Lecce in June 2020.
“The coach has been working with me after training sessions, as he wants me to score more with headers, as with my body I ought to be better at that aspect of my game. I’m happy.”
Milan needed this boost, as they had managed just two draws in their last two Serie A rounds and can now pile the pressure on fourth-placed Roma.
“Clearly, we are having an incredible season in the Champions League and need to be in there next season too against the best sides in Europe. We need to pick up as many points as possible to ensure that.”
The table changed this week when Juventus partially won the appeal against a 15-point penalty, so that has at least for now been restored, sending the Bianconeri into third place.
“We do our work, we don’t look at what the others do.”