Rafael Leao injury update: Following an injury he picked up on Saturday, Leao could be set to feature in the UCL game on Wednesday
Rafael Leao suffered a muscular injury on Tuesday, forcing AC Milan to delay making a decision on the Portuguese winger’s involvement in the first leg of their Champions League semifinal against archrivals Inter Milan. Manager Stefano Pioli made the announcement on Tuesday.
Leao has been one of Milan’s most important players this season, scoring 13 goals and dishing out 10 assists across all competitions. However, he was taken off after just 12 minutes of Saturday’s 2-0 victory over Lazio.
Leao would either start the game or not play at all, according to Pioli, who also mentioned that Belgian winger Alexis Saelemaekers was a potential replacement for the encounter on Wednesday at the San Siro.
“Today he (Leao) trained, tomorrow I will decide what to do,” Pioli told reporters, adding that he was not stressing over his fitness.
“I’m going to bed quietly tonight, anyway in the morning Rafa and the doctor will tell me his condition. If he is well he will be called up, otherwise not.
“If the test is clean he can play. If it is not clean he cannot play — either from the start or the end. I would have preferred to do it today, but it was not possible.”
Milan, who lost their title as Serie A champions to Napoli last week, has struggled in the league, winning only three of their previous ten games and falling to fifth position, two points below Inter. However, Pioli opted to emphasise their successful European run, in which they defeated Napoli in the quarterfinals and Tottenham Hotspur in the last 16.
“We are talking about Champions League, we have not had ups and downs but an outstanding run,” he said.
“We want to try to overcome this last step before winning a Champions League final, something that hasn’t happened to all of us. Motivation is at its highest.
“It is the most difficult, because it is a Champions semi-final. But it is also beautiful to prepare, to experience, to play. I have tried to transmit concentration and happiness to the team to live these moments.”
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