Category: Milán

Ex-Sporting coach compares ‘incredible’ Leao to Ronaldo

May 9, 2022

Former Sporting CP coach Tiago Fernandes discussed Rafael Leao’s potential and the talents he displayed in his youth career.

The 22-year-old Portuguese winger was one of Milan’s stars in their decisive 3-1 win over Hellas Verona yesterday, providing two assists for Sandro Tonali as the Rossoneri picked up all three points in Veneto. Leao has been one of Stefano Pioli’s most trusted players this season and he’s living up to the hype in the Lombardy capital.

Speaking to TuttoMercatoWeb, Fernandes first discussed the similarities between Leao and former Brazil star Ronaldo.

“Leao has Ronaldo’s flair, he has the talent to solve games on his own. He reminds me of the ‘Fenomeno’ for his speed, technique and explosiveness in the decisive part of the action, qualities that in this season have emerged every Sunday, dragging Milan towards great results.”

The former Sporting coach touched on some memories he has of Leao from their time together in the club’s youth system.

“We are talking about a very special boy for me, I am too happy for what he is doing. I met him when he was just 12-13 years old, coaching him in almost all of Sporting CP’s youth teams until he made his debut in the first team when he was just over 18.

“I can assure you that only Cristiano Ronaldo in Lisbon was as talented as him at that age.”

He spoke about how it feels today to see the 22-year-old Portuguese winger shining for Milan.

“It’s very exciting, it repays the many hours of work we spent together on the pitch at Sporting. I’m proud that he has joined a great club like Milan, he is doing very well. I hope he wins the Scudetto, we’re only two games away from the final goal.”

Finally, Fernandes discussed how far Leao can go in his career.

“Rafael has the talent to play for the best clubs in the world, from Real Madrid to Barcelona. I am convinced that he has an incredible career ahead of him.”

The 22-year-old Leao, who is contracted to Milan until 2024, has made 40 appearances across all competitions so far this season, for a total of 3021 minutes. In that time, he’s scored 13 goals and provided nine assists.

Milan

Milan’s Scudetto celebrations may force Inter fans out of San Siro

May 9, 2022

Should Milan win the Serie A title, Inter fans may be forced to quickly leave the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza after their match against Sampdoria to make space for the Rossoneri’s celebrations.

La Gazzetta dello Sport details how Lega Serie A hoped to bring forward Sassuolo-Milan and Inter-Sampdoria to Saturday May 21 at 15:00 local time, allowing for the official celebrations to take place the following day at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, regardless of the results.

This plan has collapsed, however, due to a big concert organised by Radio Italia in Piazza Duomo in Milan on Saturday. Obviously there would be significant policing and public order problems should a Milanese team win the title whilst the concert is taking place in such a public area, so the matches will have to be played on Sunday.

It’s likely that the two matches will kick off at 15:00 on the Sunday, but this could pose a problem. Should Inter win the title, there would be no issue as they’re already playing at home, but things get a little bit complicated if Milan secure the Scudetto.

The Meazza would have to be emptied of Nerazzurri fans in order to allow the Rossoneri fans the space to celebrate. Everything would be quickly transformed from Inter branding to Milan, something that precedent proves feasible.

Back in 2008, Inter celebrated their Scudetto on May 18 at the Meazza after beating Parma away in the afternoon. The stadium had hosted Milan-Udinese that afternoon and everything was quickly turned around ahead of the party.

Updates regarding this plan are expected in the coming days and contacts between the clubs and the police are constantly ongoing.

Milan’s Scudetto celebrations may force Inter fans out of San Siro

May 9, 2022

Should Milan win the Serie A title, Inter fans may be forced to quickly leave the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza after their match against Sampdoria to make space for the Rossoneri’s celebrations.

La Gazzetta dello Sport details how Lega Serie A hoped to bring forward Sassuolo-Milan and Inter-Sampdoria to Saturday May 21 at 15:00 local time, allowing for the official celebrations to take place the following day at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, regardless of the results.

This plan has collapsed, however, due to a big concert organised by Radio Italia in Piazza Duomo in Milan on Saturday. Obviously there would be significant policing and public order problems should a Milanese team win the title whilst the concert is taking place in such a public area, so the matches will have to be played on Sunday.

It’s likely that the two matches will kick off at 15:00 on the Sunday, but this could pose a problem. Should Inter win the title, there would be no issue as they’re already playing at home, but things get a little bit complicated if Milan secure the Scudetto.

The Meazza would have to be emptied of Nerazzurri fans in order to allow the Rossoneri fans the space to celebrate. Everything would be quickly transformed from Inter branding to Milan, something that precedent proves feasible.

Back in 2008, Inter celebrated their Scudetto on May 18 at the Meazza after beating Parma away in the afternoon. The stadium had hosted Milan-Udinese that afternoon and everything was quickly turned around ahead of the party.

Updates regarding this plan are expected in the coming days and contacts between the clubs and the police are constantly ongoing.

‘Devastating’ Leao shines as Pioli’s ‘risks’ pay off against Verona

May 9, 2022

Rafael Leao made the difference for Milan in their key 3-1 win over Hellas Verona, an important victory as Stefano Pioli managed to avoid falling to the Fatal Verona curse.

The Rossoneri picked up a commanding win at the Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi yesterday to keep up the momentum in their quest for the Scudetto. It was a much needed win following Inter’s 4-2 comeback against Empoli on Friday. A brace from Sandro Tonali and a late addition by Alessandro Florenzi secured the victory for the Milanese club.

Leao was one of the most praised players following the victory, with La Gazzetta dello Sport feeling that he “invented the first goal” and “gifted Tonali the second”. Corriere dello Sport agreed, adding that he “cooked up the second goal in his own way.”

Tuttosport lauded even more praise on the Portuguese forward, calling him “Devastating. His two assists are two half-goals.”Corriere della Sera looked to animation for inspiration as they worked to describe his performance, suggesting that “he looks liked Road Runner, and there’s no Wile E. Coyote to follow him.”

Pioli also received praise and La Gazzetta dello Sport underlined how “He didn’t join the club of the greats to whom Verona has been fatal, but he certainly doesn’t regret it. The choice of 4-1-4-1 with Tonali so high was a nice one. Unprecedented.” Tuttosport was also impressed with Pioli’s work, noting that “he took risks and got them all right.”

Leao’s ratings in the Italian newspapers

La Gazzetta dello Sport: 8

Corriere dello Sport: 7.5

Tuttosport: 9

Corriere della Sera: 8

Pioli’s ratings in the Italian newspapers

La Gazzetta dello Sport: 8

Corriere dello Sport: 7

Tuttosport: 8

Corriere della Sera: 8

‘Devastating’ Leao shines as Pioli’s ‘risks’ pay off against Verona

May 9, 2022

Rafael Leao made the difference for Milan in their key 3-1 win over Hellas Verona, an important victory as Stefano Pioli managed to avoid falling to the Fatal Verona curse.

The Rossoneri picked up a commanding win at the Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi yesterday to keep up the momentum in their quest for the Scudetto. It was a much needed win following Inter’s 4-2 comeback against Empoli on Friday. A brace from Sandro Tonali and a late addition by Alessandro Florenzi secured the victory for the Milanese club.

Leao was one of the most praised players following the victory, with La Gazzetta dello Sport feeling that he “invented the first goal” and “gifted Tonali the second”. Corriere dello Sport agreed, adding that he “cooked up the second goal in his own way.”

Tuttosport lauded even more praise on the Portuguese forward, calling him “Devastating. His two assists are two half-goals.”Corriere della Sera looked to animation for inspiration as they worked to describe his performance, suggesting that “he looks liked Road Runner, and there’s no Wile E. Coyote to follow him.”

Pioli also received praise and La Gazzetta dello Sport underlined how “He didn’t join the club of the greats to whom Verona has been fatal, but he certainly doesn’t regret it. The choice of 4-1-4-1 with Tonali so high was a nice one. Unprecedented.” Tuttosport was also impressed with Pioli’s work, noting that “he took risks and got them all right.”

Leao’s ratings in the Italian newspapers

La Gazzetta dello Sport: 8

Corriere dello Sport: 7.5

Tuttosport: 9

Corriere della Sera: 8

Pioli’s ratings in the Italian newspapers

La Gazzetta dello Sport: 8

Corriere dello Sport: 7

Tuttosport: 8

Corriere della Sera: 8

‘Leader’ Tonali hits ‘extraterrestrial levels’ in Milan victory

May 9, 2022

Sandro Tonali was the standout star on his 22nd birthday, being ‘a hero’ whose brace could be worth a Scudetto for Milan.

The 22-year-old Italian midfielder was played in a more advanced position by Stefano Pioli in Milan’s Serie A clash against Hellas Verona last night, and this proved to be a wonderful decision. He shone at the Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi and received significant praise from the Italian press as a result.

La Gazzetta dello Sport highlighted that Tonali “gave himself an incredible birthday” with his performance, something Corriere dello Sport agreed with, adding: “On his birthday, he celebrated like a hero with a brace that reeks of the Scudetto.”

Tuttosport also lauded the former Brescia midfielder, questioning how he can impress at such a young age, “What kind of player is he, just turned 22 yesterday? We are at extraterrestrial levels. He played in a more advanced position and that’s enough for him to score 15 minutes after beating Ilic.” Corriere della Sera continued to lay good words on Tonali, calling him the “leader of this Diavolo, at just 22 years old.”

The 22-year-old Tonali has scored five goals and provided three assists in 34 Serie A appearances this season, proving himself to be a core member of Pioli’s squad in Milan.

Below are Tonali’s ratings in the Italian newspapers:

La Gazzetta dello Sport: 8

Corriere dello Sport: 8

Tuttosport: 9

Corriere della Sera: 8

‘Leader’ Tonali hits ‘extraterrestrial levels’ in Milan victory

May 9, 2022

Sandro Tonali was the standout star on his 22nd birthday, being ‘a hero’ whose brace could be worth a Scudetto for Milan.

The 22-year-old Italian midfielder was played in a more advanced position by Stefano Pioli in Milan’s Serie A clash against Hellas Verona last night, and this proved to be a wonderful decision. He shone at the Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi and received significant praise from the Italian press as a result.

La Gazzetta dello Sport highlighted that Tonali “gave himself an incredible birthday” with his performance, something Corriere dello Sport agreed with, adding: “On his birthday, he celebrated like a hero with a brace that reeks of the Scudetto.”

Tuttosport also lauded the former Brescia midfielder, questioning how he can impress at such a young age, “What kind of player is he, just turned 22 yesterday? We are at extraterrestrial levels. He played in a more advanced position and that’s enough for him to score 15 minutes after beating Ilic.” Corriere della Sera continued to lay good words on Tonali, calling him the “leader of this Diavolo, at just 22 years old.”

The 22-year-old Tonali has scored five goals and provided three assists in 34 Serie A appearances this season, proving himself to be a core member of Pioli’s squad in Milan.

Below are Tonali’s ratings in the Italian newspapers:

La Gazzetta dello Sport: 8

Corriere dello Sport: 8

Tuttosport: 9

Corriere della Sera: 8

Serie A Highlights: Verona 1-3 Milan

May 8, 2022

Watch as Milan come back to conquer their Verona fears with a birthday brace for Sandro Tonali on Rafael Leao assists and Alessandro Florenzi’s strike.

Tonali thought he had opened the scoring on his 22nd birthday only to be denied by the offside flag.

Serie A | Verona 1-3 Milan: Birthday boy Tonali conquers the Bentegodi

Instead, Marco Davide Faraoni nodded in the Darko Lazovic cross, but Leao’s pace caused huge problems for Hellas, setting up two more goals for Tonali.

Florenzi marked his return from knee surgery with a goal under two minutes after coming off the bench.

Serie A Highlights: Verona 1-3 Milan

May 8, 2022

Watch as Milan come back to conquer their Verona fears with a birthday brace for Sandro Tonali on Rafael Leao assists and Alessandro Florenzi’s strike.

Tonali thought he had opened the scoring on his 22nd birthday only to be denied by the offside flag.

Serie A | Verona 1-3 Milan: Birthday boy Tonali conquers the Bentegodi

Instead, Marco Davide Faraoni nodded in the Darko Lazovic cross, but Leao’s pace caused huge problems for Hellas, setting up two more goals for Tonali.

Florenzi marked his return from knee surgery with a goal under two minutes after coming off the bench.

Maldini: ‘Pressure is on, but Milan can handle it’

May 8, 2022

Paolo Maldini admits the pressure is on Milan going into the final two rounds, but they proved with the comeback win against Verona that they ‘can handle it.’

The Rossoneri retained their two-point lead at the top of the table with this evening’s 3-1 victory at the Stadio Bentegodi.

Marco Davide Faraoni had put Hellas in front, but a pair of Sandro Tonali goals on Rafael Leao assists and Alessandro Florenzi off the bench sealed it.

“With so much enthusiasm around us, the important thing now is to try to give a sense of calm,” the technical director told Milan TV.

“It was a match, unlike the one against Lazio, where we started very strong and dominated for the first 20-25 minutes, seeing a goal ruled marginally offside.

“If you go behind in that situation and you are not ready, it can spark a crisis. When there are so few matches left and you can see the finish line, if the team isn’t sufficiently mature to react in the right way, they could lose their heads.

“I really have to congratulate the lads, they did everything that was asked of them, including those who came in off the bench.”

Milan will be the Champions of Italy if they pick up at least four points in the remaining two games, at home to Atalanta and away to Sassuolo. Do they feel close?

“We are close because there are only two rounds left. These are not easy games, but neither was the one we played this evening,” added Maldini.

“I watched Atalanta today, they are alive and kicking, still challenging for Europe and full of top level players. We are playing at San Siro, a packed house.

“There will be a lot of pressure on us, but we can handle it.”