Massimiliano Allegri is studying how to get the best out of Rafael Leao, and he may use the same approach he did with Cristiano Ronaldo.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) writes that Leao and Cristiano Ronaldo have a lot of differences, bit what unites them is a mild propensity for non-possession play and Allegri as a coach trying to make it work.
Allegri has been working closely with Rafa since day one: he speaks to him often, encourages him, and also showers him with compliments when he gets things right during training sessions. Leao is a talent he admires tremendously, because he knows the team are better when the winger performs.
At the same time, however, he knows that for this to happen, he can’t be asked to make too many sacrifices defensively. The iron fist adopted first by his compatriots Paulo Fonseca and then (initially) by Sergio Conceiçao didn’t yield the desired results.
Despite finishing in double figures for goals and assists, Leao didn’t impress for large parts of the season. Allegri wants to change strategy, knowing Rafa will not run up and down the flank dozens of times a game. Max’s experience at Juventus alongside CR7 come into play.
Even the 2018-19 Juventus team – the last of Allegri’s first Juventus spell and the first of Cristiano’s three-year stint – played primarily with a 4-3-3, the same formation the Rossoneri will employ. Just as happened in Turin with Ronaldo starting wide on the left, Leao will also be expected to get some help.
At Juventus, Matuidi dropped down the left flank, transforming the tactical system into a 4-4-2 with the right winger of the attacking trio (Dybala or Bernardeschi) dropping back into midfield. At Milan, this new ‘job’ will fall to Pulisic, who shouldered it numerous times last season as well.
Who will be tasked with ‘sliding’ to the left to avoid leaving any space behind Rafa? Asking Modric to do so isn’t an option. At least not consistently. The choice could be between Youssouf Fofana and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, while we will also have to see how the Ardon Jashari saga plays out.
Rafa will certainly work harder than Ronaldo during his recovery phase because he’s younger than when CR7 arrived in Serie A and because he has a different status. At the same time, however, he won’t be squeezed or distorted.
Max is convinced that the Rossoneri No.10 hasn’t yet expressed his full potential in terms of scoring. For this reason, he needs to start closer to the opponent’s penalty area.
The left-back factor
The new left-back, when he arrives, will also help cover spaces, particularly on the left flank. Among his key attributes is a greater focus on defensive diagonals and controlling his own area compared to Theo Hernandez.
The Frenchman was exceptional in the attacking phase for five years but lacked coverage on the left flank last season, not helped by a number of individual errors and a general lack of discipline.
The hope is that with more coverage from the full-back and left midfielder, Leao will finally reveal his full potential. Conceicao tried with a 3-4-3, and now Allegri will try with the ‘midfield shift’.
