Leao’s Frustration and Allegri’s Concerns After Milan’s Defeat to Lazio

Milan manager Max Allegri hopes the team’s 1-0 defeat to Lazio will temper expectations regarding a Scudetto challenge, while also addressing the visible frustration of Rafael Leao during his substitution. The loss at the Stadio Olimpico on March 15, 2026, not only dashed hopes of closing the gap on league leaders Inter Milan, but also highlighted tensions within the Milan squad.

Lazio’s Victory and Inter’s Lead

Lazio secured the win with a goal from Gustav Isaksen, capitalizing on a long ball from Adam Marusic. The result extended Inter Milan’s lead at the top of Serie A to eight points, following Inter’s 1-1 draw with Atalanta. Napoli are now only one point behind Milan in third place.

Di Canio’s Criticism of Leao

Former Lazio striker and current TV pundit Paolo Di Canio sharply criticized Leao’s performance, stating the Portuguese forward was “just strolling along” while teammates worked tirelessly. Di Canio noted a visible contrast between Leao’s effort and that of Christian Pulisic, who was reportedly angered when substituted in a previous match due to exhaustion. Di Canio suggested Leao had wasted four counter-attack opportunities.

Allegri’s Perspective on Leao’s Substitution

Allegri acknowledged Leao’s annoyance at being substituted in the 67th minute, alongside Fofana, with Nkunku and Fullkrug entering the game. He explained that Leao’s performance mirrored a previous match against Cremonese and that despite attempts to console him, Leao remained visibly upset. Allegri stated Leao “was irritated by situations” surrounding the substitution OneFootball.

Allegri’s Focus on Champions League

Despite the Scudetto implications, Allegri emphasized the importance of maintaining focus on the Champions League. He admitted that while he publicly stresses the Champions League, privately he was frustrated with the performance. Football Italia

The Incident with Pulisic

Di Canio also highlighted a recent exchange between Pulisic and Leao, noting Pulisic’s willingness to contribute defensively, unlike Leao. He stated, “Today, you witness there’s this row with Pulisic, but when we don’t have the ball, he puts in the effort, comes over to link up play, and he doesn’t do that… So I say, ‘Enough, you’ve had it’”. Goal.com