Ambrosini claims Milan ‘can do without’ Leao: “Allegri wanted to send him a message”

Massimo Ambrosini has shared his thoughts on why AC Milan came under so much pressure during the draw with Atalanta on Tuesday.

Rafael Leao could hardly have gone into the match with more confidence, having netted three goals in the two league games prior, against Fiorentina and Pisa. However, he was hauled off after 45 minutes, though Massimiliano Allegri did confirm that he tried to play through a hip issue.

The problem is that for the Portuguese forward it continued the ‘unrelenting extremes’ that have been a trend during his last couple of years with the Rossoneri. Now there is talk of his hip problem forcing him to miss the Roma game, having already spent five weeks out with a calf tear.

Ambrosini spoke to Cronache di Spogliatoio about the game in Bergamo and he revealed his belief that Leao didn’t help matters in the first half, leading to his substitution.

“I would have taken him off at the end of the first half. Atalanta were exposed to counter-attacks, but every time the passes were misplaced, and this also happened because Leao’s movements were made without conviction,” he said (via MilanNews).

“Milan can do without Leao, and they proved it. He didn’t have a shocking performance, but the feeling is that Allegri wanted to send him a message.”