Costacurta reveals that Rafael Leão was more annoyed with Pulisic than with the substitution.

The tension at the heart of AC Milan continues to grow following the bitter 1-0 defeat to Lazio, and reactions are being fervently analyzed. Alessandro Costacurta, a legend of the rossonero club, shed new light on Rafael Leão’s behavior during the match, suggesting that the young Portuguese player’s anger was less about his substitution and more about the lack of passes from Christian Pulisic.

During the match, Leão, who was taken off the pitch in the 65th minute, did not hide his frustration. His displeasure was palpable when he rejected a hug from coach Massimiliano Allegri, in a clear display of discontent. However, what many may not have realized is that Leão’s anger appears to have a more specific target: his teammate, Pulisic. According to Costacurta, the Portuguese winger was particularly irritated that Pulisic did not pass him the ball in a situation that could have resulted in a goal, just before his substitution.

“If I were in that team, I would start to worry about the teams behind us,” said Costacurta during an analysis on the Sky Calcio Club program, highlighting the seriousness of the situation for Milan, who are now eight points behind leaders Inter, at a crucial stage of the season with only nine games remaining. “Eight points with nine games to go is a lot. The defeat against Lazio was an opportunity to close the gap and put pressure on the stronger team,” he added.

Costacurta, who continues to closely follow his former club, expressed his belief that the substitution of Leão was not the right decision. “I wouldn’t have taken Leão off; I would have moved him. He was making excellent shots, but Pulisic never passed him the ball. The ‘Captain America’ preferred to pass to others, and that was clear. I was making the same gestures as Leão: ‘Give him the ball, give him the ball!’”

Costacurta’s analysis reveals an internal situation that may be affecting the team’s morale, especially at a time when Napoli is closing in, now just one point behind the Rossoneri. The pressure is on, and the need for cohesion within the squad is more urgent than ever. What will follow for AC Milan? The answer may come in the upcoming matches, where the need for victories becomes increasingly pressing.