Theo Hernandez’s performance against Parma was one of the worst since he joined AC Milan, and a report has suggested possible distraction on the part of the full-back.
As simply put by Calciomercato.com, Milan fans and the media have criticised Theo for his display at the Stadio Tardini because he failed to follow his man for both of Parma’s goals, running 9km/h slower than the wingers he was supposed to be marking in both instances.
The Frenchman was on the bench from the start and on the pitch for the last 30 minutes in the first outing of the season against Torino, and then he started against Parma but was among the worst on the pitch.
The feeling is that the defender needs to find the right motivation after the bad end to last season under Stefano Pioli. Something seemed to turn at the end of the match at the Stadio Olimpico against Roma that sealed Milan’s elimination from the Europa League.
There can be no counter-evidence because Theo barely speaks in front of the cameras, but the thought of leaving Milan has been there in recent weeks. On one hand the sirens of the big clubs like Bayern Munich and Real Madrid on the other the feeling that after five years an era can end naturally.
Both Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Giorgio Furlani have spoken at length with Theo Hernandez trying to convey to him their ambition to create a Milan that can win the Scudetto. In part it worked because he has ended up staying, yet it is the renewal that will be crucial.
Milan have told Theo’s representatives that they are willing to up his current salary of €4.5m net per season (plus bonuses) to €6m including bonuses. However, an official offer is needed to really have the whole situation ‘under control’ as Ibrahimovic said it is in his last press conference.
The former Real Madrid man wants €8m net per year to renew, but – as in all negotiations – a solution is to meet halfway. Without a renewal, it would then become ‘increasingly complicated to find the right motivations to return to being the player admired in recent seasons’.
And with Fonseca… Jmmmm🫤🤢🤮🤬🇵🇹
Unrelated but for those interested, a movie about Fagioli’s addiction to gambling will be showed at la Mostra del cinema di Venezia. “Fragile” is the title.
Dietro ai grandi campioni si celano personalità complesse, articolate, a volte difficili – si legge nella nota -. Al genio sportivo si accompagnano spesso insicurezze inaspettate difficili da accettare e da gestire. Conoscere e ammettere queste fragilità diventa un gesto di maturità e di crescita che può essere di ispirazione per chi vive, o ha vissuto, momenti di difficoltà nella propria vita. Il documentario ha l’obiettivo di raccontare questo percorso e scavare nella personalità di un ragazzo la cui fragilità diventa un valore su cui costruire se stesso e la propria carriera”. (La Gazzetta dello Sport)
All very well paying the money but performance, reliability and continuity must be a regular occurrence. Ever since Leao got his bumper pay rise he’s been below average.
I truly wish we’d sell Leao. Being “amazing” for one out of every four matches just doesn’t cut it.
Noone will pay a decent amount, so sadly we need to wait for a voach who will know how to utilise him (he is only useful in an atracking 442)
Well, I don’t think that tiredness is a reasonable justification for a terrible performance, as some have argued here on the site. Theo plays as much as any other first-team professional player for his club and national team. The salary issue is also not an acceptable reason, he obviously has every right to demand better remuneration, but he needs to show seriousness and ethical commitment on the field.
The motivation is gone. There is something off about the chemistry in the team. They were too disjointed in the Parma game for us to thing it can be fixed thru bigger contracts. The direction that Milan have taken in recent years is not helping either…it shows lack of ambition and just does not inspire confidence that they want to compete …hence our big players will start checking out..
The f*ck does he need motivation? We are starting a season where a good performing squad can fight for the 1st place. Is that not motivation? To do the best you can and help your team win a trophy?
We’re also playing CL, again a good perfomring squad can go far as prof by bvb last season. Is that not motivation enough to give a 100%?
If he wants to play like cr*p Fons can bench him and we sell him in the winter. No need to keep a player around who doesnt want to give a 100% game in game out.
Until players are replaced by robots they’re still human beings with feelings and good coaches are able to motivate their players. Just check last season how Kvaratskhelia and Osimhen performed while having contract and locker room issues or Mbappé at the Euro after his problems with PSG.
Fonseca is already on the hot seat so I don’t think he will bench Théo who is one of the best players in this team. If he has to bench all the poor performers from the last two games he won’t even be able to field eleven players.
hmph. when you’re paid milions of € a season it is expected to control your feelings or at least not have them effect your performance. This new generation are all a bunch of weak minded sissies.
And people like you who defend them are enablers of this kind of behaviour.
And why are you making up (again, seems all you do is make stuff up) that fonseca doesnt motivate his players. We have 0 proof of that.
Haha you’re like grandpa Simpson my friend. It was better before, miss the good ol’ gladiators and real men who grab em by the pssy right
And yeah the players looked extra motivated against football behemoths Torino and Parma, that’s a good point we got here after two games.
they looked plenty motivated 2 me. bar maybe 2. It was poor execution of tactics that had us concede goals.
It actually isnt the end of the wolrd at Milan as the media (and d*mb fans) would want. Team just needs time to get in sync. Its normal
Strange how real champions like Luka Modric can still find the motivation to play at a high level, even at the age of 38, for a club he has been at for 12 years, through six managers, winning countless domestic and European titles. But maybe he’s a robot? Same for champions like Maldini and Thiago Silva, Buffon, Ibra, etc. Theo is 26 and only has 1 scudetto. You either have character, or you don’t. I don’t think Theo or Leao have it. They certainly have talent, but not the right mentality. Unfortunately, the time to sell Theo was this past summer. We’re now in the “danger zone” that we love to be in, and come 2025 he still won’t have signed an extension and he’ll be sold for peanuts, if at all, since he could wait another year and walk for free, although at age 28, I’m not sure how that would benefit him.
Which brings me to character. Say what you will about the quality of our players and coach, now and in the past couple of seasons, but one thing we’ve certainly lacked is character. There are no real leaders on this squad. I wish Moncada would pay more attention to these traits when looking for players.
I’m not saying that Théo is Leonidas. But in the 21st century we can assume that the mental aspect is also paramount in sports. Teams invest in therapists and mental preparation. It was the Olympics recently and we know that elite athletes work hard on that. Also look at the NFL how much time they spend scouting prospects’ characters and profiles, interviewing them, questioning teammates, coaches, neighbours, etc.
The first quality of a coach or a manager should be to be a leader of men. If we can see from outside that Zlatan is a puppet, I guess the players that knew him as a player can now feel the difference. You’re right, there is something missing in this club. Moncada is a video scout, he was a good one at some point, now he’s some corporate clone like the others. It’s the club’s responsibility to make sure the players are feeling well and ready to give their best. Just saying that Théo is happy in front of the media is not the right method.
As for the real champions you mentioned, they are or were playing for top clubs with elite expectations and top salaries. That’s very different from Théo obviously asking for a raise and playing for a team trying to just qualify for UCL appearance. But as flyingturtle said, we don’t know. Théo was smiling a few days ago when modelling for that awful third kit so maybe he’s just tired.
Motivation is overrated, there is a thing called discipline. As a professional he is paid to perform well in games.
I can understand players having a bad day or even a bad season, it happens to the best of them, but that kind of attitude that Theo (and Leao for that matters) is showing is disrespectful to the club, the coach and the players.
If he is not convinced by the project and desires to leave, he has to speak. If he is unfit, he has to communicate as such, but under no circomstances, playing like he doesn’t care is acceptable.
Exactly. They’re called professional players for a reason.
They’re not some angsty teenagers who have mood swing every one hour.
Like you said discipline is the keyword.
Although i can cut theo some slacks.
Dude been playing almost every single game last season.
And the euro too.
He’s rarely injured.
Physical and mental fatigue can happen, but i hope he’ll pick himself up next game against Lazio.
People here and the media tend to forget the amount of good games he played after one bad game.
I’m not blaming him because he had a bad game, I’m blaming him because he played like he doesn’t care, that’s disrespectful towards his teammates. If he has issues, he should adress the management.
Also, while he is still one of the LBs in the world, he hasn’t improved since the scudetto season.
Yep. 100%.
He simply didn’t have enough time to get back to shape. All those croissants ate on vacation are still taking their toll. I’m sure he’ll be back to his old self sooner than later
There is no way on earth Real would go for him with such mentality, he’s world class but With the last display I mean he’s clearly not thinking straight
He is probably depressed because Fonseca didn’t compliment his new haircut
*90yards
For good 3 seasons no LB backup …. he feels no competition in his position.
this tells how clueless and mediocre the management are. The kept on flooding RB and ignore the LB
It’s too early to overreact… he played the euros and had some time away, didn’t play much of the preseason. Give him a game or two to get some rhythm back.