It was a positive day for Milan star Rafael Leao on the eve of the decisive Champions League semi-final second leg against Inter.
The 23-year-old Portuguese winger was forced to miss the first leg of the European semi-final derby after suffering a muscle injury in a 2-0 win over Lazio at the start of May. The Rossoneri were not the same team without Leao and fell in a painful 2-0 loss to the Nerazzurri.
Coach Stefano Pioli was asked about Leao’s condition in his pre-match press conference today and seemed positive, suggesting that “He’s better, like Krunic and Messias, they should do some finishing today. If everything goes as planned, they’ll be available.”
The Portuguese winger was present at Milanello today, arriving at around 11:15 in the morning, hours before his Milan teammates. Reports suggested that this allowed him to undergo some treatment and separate warm-ups before the squad session at 17:00.
In that squad session, Leao was seen taking part in the exercises and tactical drills with his teammates, looking relaxed and comfortable, suggesting that he will be fit enough to take part in the match with Inter, even if he doesn’t start.
After training, Leao took to Instagram to charge up the fans ahead of the decisive Milanese derby, writing: “Adversity awakens in us capacities that in favourable circumstances would have remained dormant.”