Rafael Leao has spoken of his pride after wearing the Milan captain’s armband against Lecce on Friday, and has explained how Rossoneri coach Paulo Fonseca is helping him improve on a personal level ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League clash against Bayer Leverkusen.
The Portugal international joined Fonseca for the customary pre-match press conferences on Monday evening.
Leao on pride of captaining Milan and improving defensively
“It’s always a source of pride to be the captain of Milan,” Leao told the press in Germany. “I’ve been here for six years now. When I play with this shirt, there’s always a sense of responsibility, but when I have the armband that increases even more.”
Leao explained that Fonseca wants him to focus on improving his game out of possession. The coach revealed last week that Leao has been taking on extra sessions to improve his defensive game.
“From day one, the coach didn’t talk to me about goals or assists, rather that he wanted a changed player in terms of defence, to be more focused on the defensive work. He is helping me to become better. Even when we were on our way here, he was showing me a couple of videos in the car. He’s someone who is helping me a lot.
“He showed me moments without the ball, the positioning to jump on second balls. More defensive things.”
Leao opened up on who he is as a character after former Milan striker Olivier Giroud said he was more of a technical player rather than one who thrives off charisma.
“My personality is quite reserved. I’m shy and don’t like to talk much. When I’m captain, I might speak a little more before the game and on the pitch, but my strength is being able to respond with my quality and help the team with goals and assists.”
Leao on Milan’s Champions League hopes and Leverkusen threat
Leao was also asked how far Milan can go in the Champions League this season.
He responded: “It’s best to think game by game. Tomorrow will be difficult, but it’s an important game. It’s important to win in the Champions League, a very beautiful occasion. It gives us confidence.
“I want to win, and to do so, you have to make sacrifices, do things for the team. The details are really important in these games, these things make the difference.”
He also explained why Fonseca did not show his players any footage of Inter before last week’s Derby della Madonnina, which Milan won 2-1 despite a less favourable run of form before then.
“I don’t think I was surprised. We already knew how Inter play, and the coach didn’t want to put too many things in our heads. It was a game that we just needed to go out there and win. It’s a derby. I hadn’t won one for two years and in my head I wanted to win.”
Leao also shared what he knows about Bayer Leverkusen already, and who the dangerous players could be on Tuesday night.
“I know Boniface, Chukwueze has told us about him this week. He is dangerous, technical and a lethal striker. We will have to be careful. But we have to be prepared for the whole team, all the Leverkusen players play well: The full-backs Grimaldo and Frimpong. We can’t be afraid of Boniface, but we must respect his abilities.”