Milan cruised to a 2-0 victory against Lecce thanks to Rafael Leao’s brace, as put in a tour de force performance to become only the second Portuguese player to score more than 10 goals in two consecutive Serie A seasons – only after Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Rossoneri are now level on points with Roma, and Stefano Pioli wants only to focus on the clash against the Giallorossi next week, ahead of the UEFA Champions League semi-final showdown against Inter.
Pioli spoke to DAZN (via MilanNews) following the win at San Siro and shrugged talks of the encounter against Nerazzurri in a fortnight.
“Two fantastic matches to be experienced with great intensity, emotion and pathos: the Champions League semi-final plus a derby. But there’s time: we have a very important match on Saturday with an opponent who is doing very well, who are physical, and headed by a great coach. Roma are ahead of us, and we know how to deal with it.”
Pioli then praised Leao for his Man of the Match display, with the forward scoring a header and a left-footed drive on either side of half-time to hand the Rossoneri all three points.
“He’s an intelligent boy with incredible physical potential. But I think Rafa needs to close more at the far post, even from open play. there are few right-backs who can handle him in tight spaces.”
? #Pioli to #MilanTV on #Leao
"I believe that beyond results the greatest satisfaction of coaches is to improve players. Rafa still has room for improvement, it is inevitable that he is still young. For the first time he will play the semi-finals of the Champions League and it… pic.twitter.com/HZaFpfE4lU— Milan Posts (@MilanPosts) April 23, 2023
Milan’s win certainly provides the perfect remedy ahead of their clash against Roma, following successive 1-1 draws against Bologna and Napoli respectively.
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