AC Milan’s 2-1 defeat against Napoli at the Stadio Diego Maradona has ignited controversy, with Italian media outlets heavily criticizing manager Sergio Conceiçao’s decision to start Rafael Leao on the bench. The loss leaves Milan in ninth place in Serie A, nine points behind fourth-placed Bologna, significantly diminishing their chances of qualifying for the Champions League.

La Gazzetta dello Sport lambasted Conceiçao’s choice as “inexplicable,” noting that Leao’s introduction in the second half dramatically transformed Milan’s performance. The team managed four shots on goal after the break, in stark contrast to their inability to muster a single attempt in the first 45 minutes.

The respected sports daily rated Leao as Milan’s standout player and deemed it “nonsensical” to exclude him in favor of Joao Felix, who delivered another underwhelming performance. MilanNews observed that Conceiçao appeared to regret his decision almost immediately, as Leao was instructed to warm up just 20 minutes into the match, by which time Napoli had already established a 2-0 lead through goals from Matteo Politano and Romelu Lukaku.

This marks the 11th time this season that Leao has started a match on the bench. While his inconsistency has been a point of concern, La Gazzetta dello Sport maintains that he remains “by far” the most talented player in the current Milan squad.

The decision to bench Leao, coupled with Milan’s poor performance and result, has intensified scrutiny on Conceiçao’s tactical choices and man-management skills. As the Rossoneri’s hopes of Champions League qualification continue to fade, questions about the team’s direction and leadership are likely to persist in the coming weeks.