GdS: Rabiot the leader – Milan’s star sets example with performances and harsh words

Adrien Rabiot’s words after AC Milan’s win against Atalanta at San Siro have not gone unnoticed, as he spoke of his anger.

After a summer in which many speculated he might leave following Massimiliano Allegri’s dismissal, La Gazzetta dello Sport write that Rabiot has made a strong start to his second season with Milan. He has four goals and three assists after just seven league games.

The former Marseille midfielder is both the midfielder with the most goals scored in Serie A this season (four) and the one with the most contributions (seven). He also leads the ‘top five’ European leagues in the latter metric.

Rabiot’s rage

Impressive numbers that confirm, if any were needed, how important Rabiot is to Amorim’s Milan. The Frenchman was also decisive last night against Atalanta with a well-taken goal and an assist for Mario Gila’s goal that made it 3-0.

Despite the victory, both during the match and afterward, Rabiot was furious, first with the referee and then with all his team-mates. It started when he was whistled for a foul, which he disagreed with and was then booked for protesting.

It took the intervention of a few other players – such as Luka Modric – to convince him to stop complaining to the referee and thus avoid another booking. The Frenchman explained his reaction post-match, speaking in an interview with Sky.

“I needed a bit of anger, this ‘stuff’ to get me fired up. The referee didn’t show a yellow card for three or four blatant fouls against us: we get angry because we try to play and there are bad decisions. Then I have to be calm and not get angry and start a controversy. But we’re human.”

After the match, Rabiot also took it out on his team-mates. In his eyes, it cannot be acceptable nor possible to go three goals up and then almost completely fold.

“We played very well at the start, strangely enough in the last half hour we lost the thread of the game and that’s a problem. With a second half like that, the first half, which I repeat was very well done, is worth nothing. Fortunately we won but I don’t know if we deserved it that much,” he said.

“That’s why I’m a little angry, we won and we needed the three points, but we can’t collapse like this. It’s not good, we have to find our balance: it’s not a physical issue but a mental one, we’ve lowered our concentration. We have to improve our mentality. Even the players who come on have to give more.”

Rabiot is not only setting high standards at Milan with his performance levels and his output but also his words, encouraging everyone to give a bit more to avoid throwing away 65 minutes of hard work.