Theo Hernandez seems to have answered Paulo Fonseca’s call, and he is in line to start against Roma tonight as per a report.
This morning’s edition of Tuttosport (via MilanNews) recalls what Fonseca said in his pre-match press conference about Theo’s current status and whether he might make a return to the line-up, as is being predicted.
“We’ve had Theo train these days, he needs to recover physically. It’s true, I think he’s also aware that he can do much better. But honestly in these last two days, that we’ve worked together and talked, I’m really positive about Theo: let’s see how he goes. I’m mainly positive about these last two days.”
The news thus circulated of ‘a clarifying discussion’ that took place before the final training session between the coach and the Frenchman. Against the Giallorossi, the full-back will return to the field from the first minute after two consecutive games on the bench against Genoa and Verona.
Fonseca and Theo spoke before training, they cleared things up, they understood each others’ points of view and then during the final session the coach handed him a starting bib. With Rafael Leao and Christian Pulisic out, Alex Jimenez will be moved up to play as a left winger.
It is another important ‘recovery’, as is that of Ismael Bennacer who is back from the serious calf injury he got in September and is now available again after about three and a half months. He could come on in the second half.
All these players bent out of shape about Fonseca and the transition from Pioli need to remember that they play for the Badge. Not the coach.
Pioli was a good man manager but he did little to actually improve these players, allowing their flaws and mitigating them, instead of challenging them to do better.
How many times have we seen Theo and Leao dragging game in and game out and keeping their starting positions?
Fonseca is trying to fix it and I wish him luck – it’s a tough gig. I don’t know that ultimately he has enough to fix this Milan and it’s shortcomings.
But the management isn’t helping by bringing in players based on resale value and not functionality. I’m guessing more or less this winter and the summer after.