Theo Hernandez has been a hot topic of conversation in recent months. His future at AC Milan is still uncertain, with the Frenchman yet to sign a new deal, and he has been involved in controversy already this season. However, he had a much better performance than in recent weeks against Venezia.
Looking at the Theo situation is very difficult, and it really shouldn’t be. Milan are somewhat safe in the knowledge that his contract expires in 2026, so there is time to speak on a renewal, but with there being substantial interest in his services, teams could try to pry him away.
The summer was peculiar, with the Frenchman seemingly being happy at the club via Zlatan Ibrahimovic, only to suggest that he was not sure of his future at the club a few days later.
Partnering this with the controversy against Lazio and his generally poor start to the season, he has certainly been an interesting topic recently. However, against Venezia, he seemed much like his old self.
Il Foglio journalist Giuseppe spoke to Cronache di Spogliatoio about the Theo debacle, and his words have been relayed by Milan News.
Several months you indicated Maignan as the most expendable among him, Theo and Leao. Would you answer the same thing today?
“I don’t know if I would sacrifice Theo. Theo Hernandez scores a goal after 80 seconds in Milan-Venice and puts his index finger to his mouth to silence his contestants, who will be on social media because no one has ever booed him at the stadium.
“Which, I mean, for a man who wore the captain’s headband of Milan, and who has been at Milan for 6 years, in addition to being clearly the best full-back of the Milan squad, the best defender by performance, is a gesture, in my opinion, a little too easy, because clearly all the Milan fans, and all the observers, are waiting for Milan not in Milan-Venice, but in Milan-Liverpool and even more so in the derby, a match in which in six seasons Theo Hernandez, who has scored many goals and many assists, has scored 0 goals and 0 assists.
“Last year he caused a penalty in the first leg and was expelled on the return. The derby, for Theo Hernandez, is a kind of complex, and therefore doing that gesture with Venice, for a player of greatness, of importance, repeated also at the European Championship, where he was excellent with France, is too easy.
“So I expect the same Theo Hernandez, the same attitude, because before scoring goals in the second minute, in the 20th second Theo Hernandez makes a diagonal to the first action of the match with Venezia that attacks that in Parma and with Torino he did not do.
“The criticism and the sting did him good, but I feel like saying for respect and esteem, how to say, the value I give to Theo Hernandez, Milan-Venice is too easy. Let’s see Liverpool and the derby.”
Let’s see how he does today vs Salah.
Also, 0 goals, 0 assists vs Inter in 5 years. Not a lot is said about Theo not performing well in big games. People choose to turn a blind eye to it. But, after any praise of Pulisic, they right away say that he doesn’t perform in big games.
Remember Chiesa destroying Theo as a Juventus player at San Siro.
Forget goals and assists vs inter, let’s just hope he doesn’t start a fight and let Dumfries get the best of him yet again.
Actually I would enjoy Theo humiliating that idiot even if it meant an actual fight with 3-4 match suspension. DumbFries needs a lesson. 😛
Haha same high kick as Zlatan on Materazzi please
So we’re judging left backs with goals and assists now? Whatever fits your point I guess. Last time I checked, Théo was considered a top 3 left back in the entire world. He’s a key starter for France, went to World Cup finals and Euro semifinals, and he’s a key starter for Milan with a Scudetto and a UCL semifinals run, and a vice-captain, scoring a goal and an assist (and building the second goal against Lazio) this season. He’s easily a top 3 player in this team.
Yes, fullbacks that are bad defensively are judged based on goals and assists.
As I said Chiesa was destroying him vs Juventus and Dumbfries is one of the most dangerous inter players during the derby, and Theo is his direct match-up.
You keep writing nonsense but you didn’t disprove the narrative that Theo doesn’t perform well in big games. Venezia is a relegation team, Lazio are not a top team and you forgot to mention that before the Lazio game he was involved in both Parma goals which led to him being rightfully benched vs Lazio.
Omg the eternal and irrefutable demeaning counter-argument, “you write nonsense”, “you’re anti-USA”, “you’re braindead”, this place looks like a presidential debate. Well that’s your opinion that Théo is bad defensively, many won’t share it especially those who watched France at the Euro. We could argue that nobody has been good against Inter over the past two years but ok, you’re right here, albeit Théo is one of the few showing grinta on a regular basis. Spit on Théo and let’s hype Reijnders or Abraham instead, they brought many trophies and excitement at the club, that’s well deserved.
Agreed. It’s completely mind-boggling that a part of the fan base, at least here in this forum, has now decided to scapegoat Theo, clearly one of our best players and one of the best left backs in the world.
Sure, Theo is hotheaded and at times hurts the team by getting expelled or suspended (I wish he’d improve that part); sure, Theo sometimes has had defensive failures (what defender doesn’t?), and sure, Theo has not had a good start to this season as it is often the case with people who play the Euro or the World Cup and have a short off-season. But Theo usually recovers his form and gets excellent again, like he seems to be doing just about now (and I don’t think it is because our mediocre coach benched him; for me, it has more to do with naturally improving after a slow season start).
These critics seem to forget how Theo has delivered over and over fabulous performances for Milan and in his chemistry with Rafa (another favorite one for scapegoating) has been directly responsible for countless victories.
Also, let’s not forget that Theo is over-used due to not having a suitable deputy for the LB position (Terracciano is not it; Bartesaghi is not it; Jimenez is not it, and God forbid, you mediocre Fonseca, poor Alexis was not it!) so no wonder at times Theo gets exhausted. And people still called him “lazy”!!! Theo is not lazy at all!
What’s with these people who consistently bash our best players? What kind of “fans” are they? Are they just trolls or fans of other clubs who come here under disguise just to stir trouble? I think that the vast majority of real Milan fans greatly appreciate Theo.
By the way, Theo has been generous about sticking with Milan over the years, given that he has never been compensated at Milan like he deserves. He is a world-class player who is not getting a world-class salary but has nevertheless remained with us.
It is also interesting that Theo does so well with France, under a different coach (again, he’s been off-form this season start at the Nations League, but had phenomenal performances during the Euro). Could it be because we’ve had mediocre coaches for years now, rather than it being a Theo problem?
Thank you Theo for all that you’ve done and you still do for Milan, and forza, Theo! I love you!
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This said, Bartholomeo, don’t do like them. I also do appreciate Reijnders and Abraham.
I think the Milan players who really deserve criticism are the clueless Terracciano, the gaffe-prone Thiaw, the horrible Emerson Royal, and oh God, that bum Origi who just won’t leave because apparently he prefers to live in one of Europe’s greatest cities earning 4 M per year for doing nothing, rather than manning up and seriously seeking another club. Sure, when players really deserve criticism, we shouldn’t be blind to their issues just because they are Milan players, but Reijnders and Abraham are obviously helpful and shouldn’t be harshly criticized either.
“Thank you Theo for all that you’ve done and you still do for Milan, and forza, Theo! I love you!”
– Ah, love makes us blind. Clearly your love for him prevents you from seeing his faults. And yes, there are some.
“I think the Milan players who really deserve criticism are the clueless Terracciano, the gaffe-prone Thiaw, the horrible Emerson Royal, and oh God, that bum Origi who just won’t leave because apparently he prefers to live in one of Europe’s greatest cities earning 4 M per year for doing nothing, rather than manning up and seriously seeking another club. ”
No. Everyone who isn’t performing as they should deserves criticism. Even if you’re in love with them.
Someone need to tel this lad, it’s about consistency. He is only motivated, when there ich criticism.
Tell*
Is*
The way he’s unfairly criticized, and the way our management has never compensated him with the salary he deserves for being one of our few world-class players, no wonder Theo’s motivation isn’t at the highest.
Theo is NOT inconsistent! Like ALL players including Lionel Messi, Theo is not excellent EVERY game, but he very often is indeed excellent. All players including the best in the world have off-days and even off-stretches. The fact that Theo had a slow start to the season after being away for most of the off-season with his national team, doesn’t mean that Theo is inconsistent.
I’d agree that RLC is inconsistent (capable of MOTM performances but also of worst-player-on-the-field performances). I’d even agree that Rafa is inconsistent – although I should point out that Rafa is CONSISTENTLY one of our players with the highest or second highest total of goal contributions (scores + assists) at season end, which he has done every season for the last three seasons; either placing first, or placing second after Giroud – and still slightly ahead of Pulisic).
But Theo? No, Theo is not inconsistent. A few poor performances like EVERY good player has, doesn’t make of Theo an inconsistent player.