Theo Hernandez has had a very disappointing season so far and many AC Milan are wondering what has happened to their star. During yesterday’s press conference, Stefano Pioli didn’t have any good answers either, as argued by Andrea Longoni.
Pioli was asked about the performances of Hernandez and simply explained that the Rossoneri have a slightly different tactical approach this season. In his latest editorial for MilanNews, Longoni questioned the response of the Milan head coach.
“Pioli said: ‘We are developing a different attacking phase, especially on the left flank, which is why we expect Theo to be less exuberant’. But why? The Frenchman is a top player for Milan, and he must be valued. If you reduce his exuberance, you take away his superpowers.
“The link-up with Leao was perfect last season. Why would you change it? It must be said, then, that this way of attacking doesn’t even exalt the Portuguese winger either, on the contrary. This is why it’s difficult to understand what Pioli means.
“Of course, it’s clear that both have to give a lot more. Especially the full-back, who has had a truly disappointing season so far,” he wrote.
Most of us will agree that Hernandez hasn’t been involved enough in the attacking phase, subsequently hurting not just Milan’s creativity but also the quality of Rafael Leao. With the left-back bursting forward, the Portuguese winger is naturally given a lot more space.
It remains to be seen how it will look tonight, as the Rossoneri will take on Napoli away from home. They have been very successful in that fixture recently and need to send a signal to their rivals this evening.
