AC Milan head coach Stefano Pioli says Rafael Leao is “becoming a champion” as the winger helped his side progress to the Champions League semi-finals after overcoming Napoli. 

Following a 1-1 draw at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, Milan progressed to the semi-finals of the European competition after winning 2-1 across two legs. 

Leao, 23, produced a man of the match performance on the night and played a crucial role in the decisive goal as he burst past Napoli’s defence before unselfishly crossing for Olivier Giroud, who scored into an empty net.

Victor Osimhen pulled a goal back for Napoli late in the match, but it was not enough to overcome the seven-time Champions League winners. 

Speaking about Leao, Pioli said: “We’re enjoying everything about Leao.

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“Today we asked him to help out more defensively and he did it. Rafa is becoming a champion and that’s what he’ll become.

“It’s up to him, because for someone with that much talent and skill, both technically and physically, it’s just a matter of how much effort he puts in.”

Following their overall victory across two legs, Milan will be monitoring Wednesday’s quarter-final between Inter Milan and Benfica, with the winners playing Pioli’s side in the semi-finals. 

Inter currently have a two-goal advantage heading into the second leg, raising the prospects that a Milan derby could be on the cards for a place in the final. 

Pioli says that he would welcome a semi-final with his Milan rivals and also admitted his side will do everything they can to reach the final. 

“It would look like that (a semi-final with Inter), as Inter won the first leg so well,” Pioli told Mediaset.

“These will be another two difficult, exciting and wonderful clashes in the Champions League. We’ve done a great deal and don’t want to stop now.”

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(Photo: Getty Images)

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