It has been a poor start for everyone involved at AC Milan. However, Theo Hernandez is facing much more controversy than other squad members. The Frenchman has often been Mr. Reliable, at the moment, he is everything but that.
Perhaps, as the vice-captain Theo is more open to scrutiny than other members of the squad, or maybe it is just an expectation of previous levels. Since joining, the left-back has gone from strength to strength, but he has started this season very poorly.
Against Parma, there were questions about his level of commitment, and against Lazio, he was at the heart of controversy. During international duty, he was again below the levels he set himself, and it is fair to say this is his toughest moment.
As Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) writes, the defender had a good European Championship but has returned to the new season looking like a different player. Physically, he looks off it, and questions can be asked about his mental state, with his attitude being questioned.
Paulo Fonseca has already made the brave decision to drop him once, and following this, he was involved in a self-proclaimed innocuous controversy. However, the damage was done, even if it was not intended.
The frustration comes from the knowledge of Theo, rather than the sale of a false dream. For years, he has been consistently professional and one of Milan’s stars. After all, he is one of the best players in the world in his position, if not the best.
However, a decline has occurred, and maybe, it has occurred longer than the past month. Defensively, he was superb for France this summer, but he wasn’t at his best going forward. Now, both sides of his game are struggling, with the defensive side becoming a real issue.
Gazzetta questions whether the contractual situation could be a factor in his mental drop, and with the Frenchman being cryptic this summer about his future, maybe this is an issue which needs addressing sooner rather than later.
The club still see his renewal as important, but no steps forward have been attempted yet. They should arrive, but when they will be remains to be seen.
There’s nothing spectacular about him that’s why no club came for him. If these players that called themselves big name are really that big, clubs will keep coming. Let’s leave media speculation alone and face reality. Any player that doesn’t want to play or stay, sell him.
Harsh opinion. Théo has been spectacular in many ways, from the goals he scored (vs Lazio, at the World Cup, etc.) to his athletic abilities and defensive improvement over the years. His ability to stay healthy and play 90 minutes twice a week is also uncommon in modern football. He entered the pitch against Lazio and one minute later we had the evidence that him et Leao are our best players with that fast and decisive goal. We don’t know if the club received offers and according to your rhetoric neither Haaland nor Vinicius are big names because Manchester City and Real Madrid didn’t receive offers for them.
It’s up to the management and the coach now to try to put him in the best position to succeed. He was excellent at the Euro and not so bad against Italy, at least he showed some motivation.
Théo appears in a video with a French youtuber posted a few days agos for those interested. They play challenges with a ball.
I think he feels club is not aligning with his ambitions anymore and the management has done no favours with a shite transfer window. Theo will not renew and we should sell him in Jan to get a good price.
Same goes for Leao
The cornrows are why