‘It didn’t work’ – Leao shares insight on difficult relationship with Fonseca | OneFootball

Rafael Leao has lifted the lid on his relationship with Paulo Fonseca, admitting that he never got a personal explanation for why he was benched.

To describe it as an up and down season for Leao would be an understatement. Only a few months ago, the winger was reportedly asking his agent to look for January moves because he was being left on the bench, but that seems like an impossible thought now.

The winger played a big role in the Supercoppa Italiana triumph earlier this month, coming off the bench to have a hand in each goal in the eventual 3-2 comeback win over Inter. While both being Portuguese did not seem to matter under Fonseca, Sergio Conceicao already seems to have struck a chord.

Leao spoke in a long interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport about his love for Milan, the impact that Sergio Conceicao has had and his desire to win the biggest prizes in football. Naturally, he was asked for a reflection in Fonseca’s 24 games in charge.

It seems like a clear break from Fonseca’s tenure. What didn’t work with him?

“I have nothing to say about our coach-player relationship, even though we had to resolve a couple of situations at the beginning – and I don’t mean problems, but situations. He tried to do his job, to apply his ideas and I think there’s always something to learn.

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“But it didn’t work and whether he should have stayed or not, I’m certainly not the one to decide. However, I can say that everyone tried to give their all and that I wish Fonseca the best.”

Even though he left you on the bench three times in a row in Serie A? Did you get angry or did not playing from the first minute motivate you?

“A bit of both. I think that at least one explanation for three consecutive benches can be given, but sometimes coaches do that… It was the first time it happened to me at Milan and I also learned.

“If it happens again, and I hope not because I want to always be on the pitch, I will be more aware of what I have to do, that is, stay focused, not get down or lose confidence in myself, which is the most important thing to do our job at our best. In any case, the past is the past and I look to the future with confidence.”