The decision to remove Rafael Leao at half-time in the defeat to Torino continues to provoke debate, and it could have ramifications on the future.
As Calciomercato.com reports, the over-arching headline is that Milan dropped three more crucial points due to a mistake from Mike Maignan and some defensive inattention in the crucial moments, leaving them eight points from fourth place.
However, the Leao case is also a talking point. At half-time, with his side one goal down and having failed to convert a penalty, Conceicao decided to take the Portuguese winger off and to bring Youssouf Fofana on in what was quite a surprise substitution.
Leao’s numbers suggest he wasn’t very involved: only 11 completed passes, 11 balls lost and the misery of five duels won with just one completed dribble. This is not the best for someone who has the responsibility of carrying the attack, yet his header drew the penalty Christian Pulisic missed.
Leao did not return to the bench for the second half as he usually does and this is something that perhaps makes it a bigger issue, even if the head coach tried to play things down after the game in his post-match interview.
“Technical choice or for a physical problem? A bit of both. I saw that Rafa was not at his best, there are other players too. Everyone is important for Milan, in my opinion we should not go into substitutions and the formation when you concede such ridiculous goals.”
Leao remains the true game-breaking player in Milan’s attack with his pace and his knack for creating something out of nothing, while Joao Felix seemed more off the pace and in need of a breather, then Pulisic is known to be playing through an ankle issue.
What we can take from it all is that Conceicao’s firm stance with Leao is uncompromising. He benched him for the games against Empoli and Hellas Verona in the league plus in the Coppa Italia against Roma, then he got 45 minutes on Saturday.
The relationship between Conceicao and Leao must be monitored. Things certainly started well, and with a Champions League spot to pursue the hope is that things will blossom again in spring. Otherwise, the calls from Barcelona and/or Saudi Arabia might be a bit more tempting.
