Leao reflected on Milan’s dramatic 3-3 draw with Cagliari, acknowledging the ups and downs of the match but expressing confidence in his performance. Meanwhile, Cagliari boss Nicola felt his side could have secured all three points, praising their resilience despite Milan’s attacking threats.
Leao reflects: “Ups and downs, but I know what I’m doing.”
Rafael Leao of AC Milan shared his thoughts after his team’s thrilling 3-3 draw with Cagliari in Serie A. The Portuguese forward, who netted two goals in the match, took to Instagram to reflect on both the game and his performance.
In an exciting match at the Unipol Domus, Milan regained the lead twice thanks to Leao’s goals but were equalized both times by a determined Cagliari team. The game also saw Milan’s 16-year-old talent, Francesco Camarda, make his first Serie A start.
Cagliari took an early lead in the first minute with Zortea’s goal, but Leao’s brace between the 15th and 40th minutes gave Milan the advantage. In the second half, Zappa leveled the score for Cagliari after a mistake by Fofana. Tammy Abraham, who replaced Camarda, briefly put Milan ahead again, but Zappa completed his double with a brilliant volley in the 89th minute, sealing a 3-3 draw.
Despite the frustration of losing two points, Leao’s performance stood out for Milan. In his post-game Instagram update, the forward wrote: “Ups and downs, but I know what I’m doing!” This statement captures the match’s rollercoaster nature and Leao’s confidence in his skills, even amid a tough outcome.
The draw is a setback for Paulo Fonseca’s Milan, who will be disappointed not to take all three points despite Leao’s standout performance. As the team moves through a challenging Serie A season, they will rely on their Portuguese star to maintain his form and lead them in their quest for success.
Cagliari Boss Nicola Feels They Could’ve Won vs Milan
Milan conceded three goals to Cagliari last night, dropping two vital points and raising further concerns about their defense. Gabriele Zappa was the standout player, scoring twice from right-back in the second half.
In the end, Paulo Fonseca’s pre-match comments about the Real Madrid game serving as a bigger motivation proved accurate. Nicola’s team may not have the same attacking strength, but with tight man-to-man marking and a few well-placed crosses, they managed to secure a point.
Nicola spoke to DAZN after the final whistle to reflect on the thrilling, goal-packed match, which featured late drama. MilanNews reported his remarks.
What did you think of the game?
“What I particularly liked was the consistent performance. We must recognise the qualities of Milan but Cagliari are growing. Seeing the team with the right attitude, not only wanting to defend but also trying to play our game, is a source of pride.”
The crosses into the middle hurt Milan a lot…
“In reality, in the first half, we were not always able to do the right preparation. Sometimes, we moved the ball well from one side to the other; other times, we were too frenetic.
“In the second half we had for long stretches the ability to build with less frenzy. Looking at the numbers, it is almost a shame to have drawn.
“Then we humbly remember that we met a great team that played a short time before. The defensive phase now can also be done by building the game.”
How does the step forward in terms of personality make you feel?
“Continuity for those who compete for our objective is not easy. The first thing to look for is consistency of performance levels. With rare exceptions, the team have always produced a performance.
“There are things to improve on the goals conceded. There is room for improvement in being more concrete. We have met teams like Roma, Juventus, Napoli, Lazio.
“We also played a great game in Rome, but when you don’t manage to score goals, it is more difficult to get points. Then the details make the difference.”
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