AC Milan manager Paulo Fonseca has showered encomiums on Nigerian international Samuel Chukwueze following their UEFA Champions League victory against Club Brugge.

The Rossoneri recorded a convincing 3-1 win against the Belgian side at San Siro, with Chukwueze coming off the bench to assist the last goal of the game.

Despite his remarkable performance in Serie A against Udinese last weekend, the 25-year-old was not handed a starting role against Brugge, as he came on with half an hour left to play.

The former Villarreal man helped seal Milan's victory by assisting Dutchman Tijani Reijnders for his second goal of the night, as the seven-time UCL winners recorded their first victory of the campaign.

Speaking in a post-match press conference, Fonseca stated that his side improved after the introduction of Chukwueze and Noah Okafor.

“I think we improved with the entry of Okafor and Chukwueze. When Okafor and Chukwueze came on, the game changed; they brought energy, and the team gained intensity. After the second goal, we did some very good things, but before that, we played without intensity,” he told SkySports.

“There’s no specific problem with him (Leão). The substitution wasn’t a punishment; we needed Okafor and Chukwueze. It should be seen as normal; Rafa needs to see it as normal and work to help the team like all players.”