After numerous weeks of playing catch-up with their cross-city rivals Inter and Napoli, Milan have finally leaped into first place as the Rossoneri secured a vital 1-0 victory against Sampdoria at the Stadio San Siro.
Despite Zlatan Ibrahimovic being held at bay from the fixture due to injury, Rafael Leao showed no signs of fear as the Portuguese international rose to the occasion. The 22 year-old brought Mike Maignan’s goal-kick down in brilliant fashion and surged away from Bartosz Bereszynski along the flanks in order to tuck the ball into the far low corner and hand Milan an earlier.
Pioli’s men dominated the fixture as they picked apart Sampdoria and had numerous occasions to double their advantage through the likes of Olivier Giroud and Junior Messias. In the end, Leao’s brilliant strike was enough to secure all three points against the Blucerchiati.
Following Il Diavolo’s impressive display at the San Siro, Pioli spoke to DAZN about his side’s overall performance and the psychological impact of climbing at the top of the Serie A table: “We have to feed on this enthusiasm, our fans give us incredible energy, it’s right to absorb it,” as relayed by Milan News. “You have to give yourself a few breaks, you can’t always go a thousand miles per hour: we could have closed it earlier, we will try to improve, but we have closed a really important and very positive week.
“We are taking a step. In the first half we were satisfied a little too much. In the second half we created a lot, but often we didn’t make the right play in the final phase. I told the team that matches can also be won 1-0, we have not conceded anything to the opponents.”
In addition, the gaffer discussed the absence of Ibrahimovic and his thoughts of the young stars of Milan eventually having to lead the way within the club: “Thanks to everyone’s work, it’s part of our path. We started two years ago with a lower level of experience, Zlatan made us grow a lot and I’m sure he will be decisive for the rest of the season, but now everyone can be decisive. Performance always depends on us, then there are many components on the result that can affect it: but performance depends on us.”
Finally, the Italian tactician commented on Leao’s performance and his incredible run of form so far throughout the second half of this year’s campaign: “He was replaced because he was dropping a bit in intensity and I have very good alternatives. Then you would have had another opinion if Rebic had scored.
“I am very satisfied with Leao, he must continue like this. He can be decisive in all games. For the game we have, I prefer to take away a player in the 60th minute with no energy because he gave everything rather than a player in the 90th who still has energy. The quantity of minutes is not important but the quality.”
With Milan currently the cream of the crop as they possess 54 points, one point more than the Nerazzurri who have a game in hand, Pioli hopes that his men can maintain their fabulous consistency as the Rossoneri prepare to face Salernitana in a crucial fixture within the race for the Serie A title.