Theo Hernandez wants to return to being one of the best in the world in his position, and he is aiming to show that with renewed commitment.
As La Gazzetta dello Sport (seen below) report this morning, yesterday was the first of three days of vacation granted by Paulo Fonseca to his team for the Christmas period. Milan will return to training the day after tomorrow to prepare for Sunday’s match against Roma.
Theo, however, showed up at Milanello anyway. With the help of a member of staff, the French full-back did an individual session, following the program drawn up specifically to help him regain the form he lost in recent weeks.
Without naming him, Fonseca had criticised his attitude on the pitch during a post-match outburst following the win over Red Star. Rather than sulking, Theo wants to show a desire to return to the top, but Milan also wants its star back.
After spending 90 minutes on the bench against Genoa, Hernandez was initially a substitute in Verona too. Rafa Leao’s injury shortly after the half hour mark, however, almost forced Fonseca to throw the former Real Madrid man into the fray.
Theo certainly didn’t enchant at the Bentegodi, but against Roma it’s likely that he could return from the first minute, given the many absences. Then, Alex Jimenez would be moved up to play as a winger, with Christian Pulisic ready to come on during the game.
The Frenchman must be ready, because his last outings with the red and black shirt have been decidedly below expectations. It’s not just Milan that have noticed that something is wrong, but also the national team because he was left out of France’s last match at San Siro against Italy.
It is unusual for a player of his level, but an added motivation is that even his starting place with Les Bleus is at risk, especially after Didier Deschamps admitted to being worried about his physical and psychological condition.
Theo has a lot to prove, also in light of his contractual situation. His agreement with Milan expires in 2026 and the dialogue between the management and his agent has already begun. There is confidence that a signature will arrive, though without an improvement some reflections could occur.
This is good news; if Theo is now humbled by the bench and by Jimenez replacing him very well (two top-3 performances in a row) and Theo is willing to work harder, then there is a chance that he’ll recover his form.
Humbled???
He didn’t need to be ‘humbled’. He needed to be supported by fans and the club during a difficult period where he still provided goals and assists.
Oh and Jiminez wasn’t as awesome as everyone is making out. He got caught out defensively numerous times.
I’m so sick of people constantly falling over themselves for whatever is the latest piece of fresh meat whilst turning on players who have consistently delivered to years.
You think that winning the Scudetto once buys you a lifetime of praise and no accountability for any decline in form or wrongdoing. We are all sick and tired of your stereotypical and bloated praise for anybody who was a member of the Scudetto-winning team (Luke your obsession with Calabria).
I loved the Scudetto season and praise the players for what they did, but if they subsequently show problems, then yes, I’ll criticize them.
Still, my take here was positive, encouraged by this development for Theo. But YOU would never acknowledge it; you just zoomed into your delusions about a player being untouchable if he won the Scudetto. I guess you’d want the same players to remain with Milan for the next 40 years until they play in some geriatric league at the retirement home.
We finished 2nd a few months ago.
We’re now 8th.
I find 8th unacceptable but you’d never know it with all of these glowing reviews of whatever newbie the media are obsessed with.
Theo and the other scapegoats are proven, bolted on winners, who were key to raising us up the last time we were in mid-table obscurity.
So dramatic.
There is nobody more responsible for Milan’s troubles this season than Theo. He has been undermining this coach from the start. From the cooling break incident, to the penalty taking incident against Fiorentina where he was solely responsible for the 3 points we dropped as well as setting a terrible example of defying the coaches orders, which was quickly followed by Tomori and Abraham. Then he gets suspended for 2 games for arguing with the officials, so he misses the game against Napoli, a match where we were already without Reijnders and Pulisic.
Not to mention his overall lack of effort and terrible marking on any cross that has led to multiple goals conceded.
This is not the behaviour of a leader or someone who should ever wear the armband again.
Parma Torino Cagliari Fiorentina all scored goals from Theo’s side and even interfered with penalties and you are happy with him?
It would be a mistake to sell him because no club will pay more than 50m and that’s not good for Milan. So we need to keep him.
I do wish Milan would switch to a back 3 and play Theo, Jimenez, Musah and Saelemakers as wingbacks next season. That’s the best position for these players.
We should not sell Tomori either. Instead switch to a back 3. Play 343. We have right players for it.
Finally!
Kalulu would’ve been so useful in back 3 as well…
I’d love to see this too
👍👍👍👍💯
theo got it all hopefully he recover his form but hopefully he play next game instead of royal
Poor Royal.
He hasn’t been given any of the benefit of doubt that’s usually reserved for new shiny things around here.
Even when he’s done ok he’s still criticised.
It shows how difficult it is to break from the Group Think. Once the mob decides you’re finished!
F you Theo yon lazy scum just taking your pay check/cheque,m.
I hereby (without any sense of irony or self-awareness) demand you show loyalty for a club that shows no loyalty to you!
Oh and take your fellow Scudetto winners/antiques with you.
It’s fine for Revolution #9!
Only idiots, fools, clowns and donkeys would agree to sell theo though he is not playing so well this year. All players pass through a rough patch sometimes so just be patient and wait for his form to come back.
Also makes no sense for fonseca to get rid of theo and then he will be sacked hinself two or three weeks later!!!!!
Stop butchering the milan squad and only get rid of okafor, loftus cheek, morata, abraham, emerson royal and chuku …..
I love Theo, I think for stretches last season he was the best left back in the world. But Jiménez, at 19, is the future. He has shown some true flashes of class, has exceptional pace and dribbling. The main concern ofc is the Real Madrid buyback clause. Theo must be given a chance to get back into form but his value is also dropping by the day.