epa11576502 Milan’s Rafael Leao reactsafter scoring the aim throughout the Serie A soccer match between SS Lazio and AC Milan on the Olimpico stadium in Rome, Italy, 31 August 2024. EPA-EFE/RICCARDO ANTIMIANI
Rafael Leao has spoken of his delight after sporting the Milan captain’s armband towards Lecce on Friday, and has defined how Rossoneri coach Paulo Fonseca helps him enhance on a private stage forward of Tuesday’s Champions League conflict towards Bayer Leverkusen.
The Portugal worldwide joined Fonseca for the customary pre-match press conferences on Monday night.
Leao on delight of captaining Milan and enhancing defensively
“It’s all the time a supply of delight to be the captain of Milan,” Leao instructed the press in Germany. “I’ve been right here for six years now. After I play with this shirt, there’s all the time a way of duty, however when I’ve the armband that will increase much more.”
Leao defined that Fonseca desires him to deal with enhancing his sport out of possession. The coach revealed final week that Leao has been taking over additional classes to enhance his defensive sport.
“From day one, the coach didn’t discuss to me about targets or assists, fairly that he wished a modified participant when it comes to defence, to be extra targeted on the defensive work. He’s serving to me to change into higher. Even once we have been on our manner right here, he was displaying me a few movies within the automotive. He’s somebody who helps me rather a lot.
“He confirmed me moments with out the ball, the positioning to leap on second balls. Extra defensive issues.”
Leao opened up on who he’s as a personality after former Milan striker Olivier Giroud stated he was extra of a technical participant fairly than one who thrives off charisma.
“My persona is kind of reserved. I’m shy and don’t like to speak a lot. After I’m captain, I would communicate just a little extra earlier than the sport and on the pitch, however my energy is having the ability to reply with my high quality and assist the staff with targets and assists.”
Leao on Milan’s Champions League hopes and Leverkusen menace
Leao was additionally requested how far Milan can go within the Champions League this season.
He responded: “It’s finest to suppose sport by sport. Tomorrow will likely be troublesome, however it’s an necessary sport. It’s necessary to win within the Champions League, a really lovely event. It provides us confidence.
“I need to win, and to take action, you must make sacrifices, do issues for the staff. The small print are actually necessary in these video games, these items make the distinction.”
He additionally defined why Fonseca didn’t present his gamers any footage of Inter earlier than final week’s Derby della Madonnina, which Milan received 2-1 regardless of a much less beneficial run of kind earlier than then.
“I don’t suppose I used to be stunned. We already knew how Inter play, and the coach didn’t need to put too many issues in our heads. It was a sport that we simply wanted to go on the market and win. It’s a derby. I hadn’t received one for 2 years and in my head I wished to win.”
Leao additionally shared what he is aware of about Bayer Leverkusen already, and who the damaging gamers might be on Tuesday night time.
“I do know Boniface, Chukwueze has instructed us about him this week. He’s harmful, technical and a deadly striker. We must watch out. However now we have to be ready for the entire staff, all of the Leverkusen gamers play properly: The complete-backs Grimaldo and Frimpong. We will’t be afraid of Boniface, however we should respect his talents.”
