AC Milan’s left side has been their strength for coming up to half a decade now, but this season things have not gone as well for Rafael Leao and Theo Hernandez, particularly for the latter.
MilanNews write that it certainly has not been Theo’s best start to the season and his performances proved it. If we exclude the match against Torino, where he scored a great goal, the French full-back has generally shown anonymity in the attacking phase and difficulties in the defensive phase.
These are shortcomings that have been noticed in several matches rather than just being the odd bad game, and this is a significant disadvantage for Milan and Pioli, who has constructed a tactical approach that relies on him being at his best.
Theo is one of the most important players of this team, but his performance in recent months cannot be satisfactory, even to himself. His famous full-throttle runs have been drastically reduced, his crosses from the byline are practically nil and he has made errors in decisions at both ends.
It must also be noted that he racked up five yellow cards in the first eight games of the season, and his fifth was against Genoa which appeared senseless given it was taken 90 metres from his own goal.
A sudden change is needed in this state of ‘sporting catalepsy and performance’, because the Frenchman has all the physical and technical skills to return to being one of the best in the world in his position.
Theo is now 26 years of age so he is getting towards being the finished product, but he must also hit peak maturity too and for that to be achieved he needs to change his attitude on the field when he commits fouls.
The report concludes by saying ‘the time of hibernation is over’ and that the former Real Madrid man must return to being Milan’s TGV down the left.
He once had Maldini as a mentor now he only has Pioli….
I thought he was decent against Napoli. That pass to Reijnders counts as an assist in any book.
At his age instead of getting better , he is getting weaker. And the reason that Maldini is no longer by his side is childish. Theo must be a man at this age, a fully developed top ant consistent player, not a protected child.