MILAN, ITALY - APRIL 23: Rafael Leao of AC Milan celebrates after scoring the team's first goal during the Serie A match between AC Milan and US Lecce at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on April 23, 2023 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Rafael Leao: “It Was Important to Win, Always Nice to Score at the San Siro”

Following the Rossoneri’s crucial 2-0 victory over Lecce at the Stadio San Siro, Portuguese winger Rafael Leao touched upon his perspective of the fixture in a post-match interview.

The 23 year-old played a vital role in attaining all three points as Leao broke the deadlock in 39th minute as he headed home a great delivery from Sandro Tonali into the box. He also slotted the ball into the far low corner with a precise low-driven shot, leaving Lecce keeper Wladimiro Falcone with little to no chance of fending off the attempt, making it a brace for himself against the Giallorossi.

His superb individual display within his home-stomping ground has now extended the Portuguese international’s stunning form to 12 goals and six assists in 29 games-played within the Serie A.

With Pioli’s men taking hold of all three points at stake, Milan now sit in fifth place at 56 points, two points ahead of cross-city rivals Inter whilst on level terms with Roma whom have a game in-hand.

While speaking to DAZN Italia, via MilanNews, Rafael Leao discussed his thoughts about his performance and the importance of finding the back of the net in front of his home supporters:

On his performance: “I always try to do what I did today, even if I don’t make assists, to help my teammates. Today it was important to win, it’s been a long time since we’ve done it in the league. With these teams behind it, it’s difficult to score but the goal in the first half was important. In the second we managed to score a second.”

On scoring at the San Siro: “It’s nice to score. I thought about it before the match, today I had to score. It’s always nice to score at San Siro with these great fans”

On headers: “Yes, even after training, the coach wants me to practice on headers: he says I have to score more headers with my body”

On the standings: “We are having an incredible season in the Champions League and next year we have to come back and fight with the best teams in Europe.”

On Juve’s penalty: “We do our job, we don’t look at the others. We try to do our job and today we did it and we’re happy”