Just how much do Milan revolve around Leao?

Arrigo Sacchi prompt that Milan are being held again by their deal with Rafael Leao, so Apollo Heyes explored simply how a lot they depend on their star winger.

The 24-year-old Portuguese ahead, who’s the best earner within the squad with a wage of €5m internet per season, scored the one objective within the Rossoneri’s tight 1-0 win over Hellas Verona on Saturday, a key end result after their disappointing performances towards Inter and Newcastle United.

While Leao has been in good kind for Milan within the new season, scoring three objectives and offering two assists within the first 5 video games, his work attracted criticism from legendary Rossoneri coach Sacchi.

Learn extra: Sacchi explains why Leao is holding Milan again

Writing in La Gazzetta dello Sport, Sacchi prompt that the Portuguese winger’s “lack of monitoring again” and “lack of participation” throughout video games is holding the membership again, feeling that “Milan exist primarily for the Portuguese winger”.

Trying on the underlying numbers, it’s clear that Leao is the core determine in Stefano Pioli’s squad, enjoying a elementary position of their successes along with his skills within the remaining third, scoring repeatedly and rapidly progressing play up the pitch on the left wing.

Within the 2022-23 season, Milan scored 64 complete objectives from a mixed xG of 58.8 – Leao netted 15 of those from a npxG (non-penalty anticipated objectives) of 10.8, probably the most decisive forward of striker Olivier Giroud, who scored 13 from a npxG of 10.4.

He took probably the most pictures on common within the squad, 3.24 per 90 minutes, and produced probably the most shot-creating actions per 90 with 4.57. He concerned his teammates pretty not often, nevertheless, averaging solely 31.4 tried passes per 90.

The Portuguese winger hardly contributed defensively throughout the season, averaging simply 0.3 tried tackles per 90, 0.33 blocks per 90 and 0.3 clearances per 90.

These numbers paint a reasonably clear image of a purely attacking centered winger who’s the plain point of interest of his staff’s ahead ventures, not often monitoring again to hold out any defensive duties.

The query is, then, ought to Leao be doing extra for his teammates?

One other star winger in Serie A is Napoli’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, whose electrifying play was a key issue behind the Partenopei’s Scudetto success final season. Named the Serie A Most Priceless Participant on the finish of his debut season, how a lot did he contribute to his staff compared to Leao?

The graph above reveals the place Leao and Kvaratskhelia are related and completely different, with the previous in blue and the latter in pink. Varied elements of their play are basically the identical, like their complete pictures, shot-creating actions and profitable take-ons. Others, nevertheless, are completely completely different.

The obvious distinction between the 2 star wingers is their passing play; Kvaratskhelia makes an attempt and completes much more passes than Leao – the Georgian tried 1136 and accomplished 900, a big quantity greater than the Portuguese’s 845 tried and 595 accomplished.

One other hole between the 2 is their tackling. The Napoli man tried 43 and gained 23, while the Milan ace trailed far behind with eight makes an attempt and 7 successes. Kvaratskhelia additionally made 20 blocks to Leao’s 9, once more displaying his elevated defensive contributions.

The comparability means that, on paper, Kvaratskhelia is extra of a staff participant than Leao, fulfilling extra defensive duties and dealing more durable to contain his teammates in play while nonetheless managing to play a number one position in his staff’s assaults.

On this context then, Sacchi’s feedback do maintain some weight, figuring out a star who may very well be that includes in a transfer energetic position to be able to drive Milan to victory, moderately than ready for his teammates so he could make the decisive contribution.

Phrases: @ApolloHeyes