There is yet another strange case regarding Theo Hernandez, who has reported for international duty despite complaining about muscle discomfort.
As La Gazzetta dello Sport recall this morning, Theo was taken off at half-time during the comeback win over Como, replaced by Alex Jimenez. It was a substitution forced by his physical condition because he felt a pain in his calf that would have prevented him from playing at his best.
For the record, Theo had been more dynamic than many other times up until that point. In the post-match interviews the coach did not mention the conversation that had taken place with the player at half-time, which had led to the assumption that he was taken off by tactical choice.
Instead, Conceicao’s plan was to ‘reward’ Theo’s resourcefulness by sending him out for second half, in the hope that he would finally come up with some of the magic that we haven’t seen as much of during a difficult season.
The latest episode
The Frenchman instead chose to manage the discomfort and sit on the bench. Two days ago he arrived relaxed and smiling at Clairefontaine, the French national team’s training camp, with very blond hair, sunglasses, an excessively large tracksuit.
He was not seen on the pitch: he didn’t train with the group but still chose to stay in France. Marcus Thuram, due to ankle problems, returned to Inter to be with their doctors. And yet, the left-back opted to stay with Les Bleus.
Upon his return to the national team, Theo also posted two Instagram posts. His last social media photo that is Milan related was on February 19, to apologise to the fans for his red card against Feyenoord which resulted in elimination from the Champions League.
That red card – with the second yellow coming for a dive – was just the latest link in an unfortunate chain. It started at the end of August with the cooling break at the Stadio Olimpico, in which he and Rafael Leao intentionally stayed away from the coach. They had started that game on the bench as a punishment because in the previous match against Parma they showed poor application.
Against Fiorentina at the beginning of October, Theo – as captain – snatched a penalty from Christian Pulisic and missed it. At the end of the match he protested with the referee and was suspended for two matches due to abusing him. Before the Feyenoord game there were also many sub-par performances, especially defensively.
What the future holds
Theo’s future has already been decided: his contract, which expires in the summer of 2026, will not be renewed. Offers are expected at the end of the season and if they don’t arrive, there is also the risk of him leaving on a free transfer. In his place, Milan will take a new left-back.
In the meantime, the rift with the club – which has chosen not to offer him a rich renewal – is already underway. To extend his agreement, the player would demand a salary increase that the club has no intention of signing off.
Towards the end of the current season Sergio Conceiçao will need highly motivated players and that is where the opportunity could present itself to Alex Jimenez, who again showed himself to be a good replacement for Theo in the second half against Como.
The Spaniard plays with intensity, trying to overcome even his own limits, running and committing himself to every duel He has the desire that the Milan of today and of the future need. Real Madrid has the possibility of buying him back, but he wishes to stay.
While his form has been sub par as of late, I believe he’s being used a scapegoat for all the problems plaguing this team.
Dude, the article listed all of his failures this season. When do you remember one of Milan’s past greats p1ssing off to the other side of the field because they didn’t like it that they got benched for lack of effort? When do you remember one of Milan’s past greats getting benched for lack of effort?? Getting suspended for insulting the ref AFTER the game, snatching the ball from Pulisic, who until that point had never missed a penalty (like in his professional career), the dumb red cards, the lazy performances. You have to be a real Theo groupie to gloss this over.
He always did everything you mentioned – most of his cards are not from defensive play but for stupid stuff like ref insults, fights with opposition or simulations. He was never great at defense as well.
Everything he did apart from his issues with Fonseca, was pretty much Theo. The issue is this year he is not performing well on the offensive part, which previously got him a lot of extra credit.
What MAD says is that the media and fans are putting way too much negative focus on everything Theo does, even off field. He met with Maldini, he went out with Donnaruma (and he dared to have a laugh with him), he went to France during the international break. That is scapegoating.
Agree, also the new coaches this season are too fixated on their style of play when they have individuals who have their unique qualities and are not allowed to play their game.
With the current squad I think we should have:
3 CBs
Kyle and Theo as wing backs
Tiji and Fofana in the middle with Tiji more advanced, then Leao-Gimenez-Pulisic.
It would be better to manage Theo, for all of Jimenez bravado, he lacks a good left foot, and the both the defensive and physical attributes of a full back…
Jimenez needs to switch to a left/right winger. His play is much closer to Pulisic’s and so far he didn’t have a single good match as a defender, but had great performances on the offense. Also he needs to chill out. He is constantly a challenge or even nasty comment away from a red card at any given time. He is Theo’s explosiveness on steroids. And from his facial expression it’s obvious he is completely out of it – that’s such an easy way for the opposing team to get advantage over you.
“I’ve turned into a liability with my laziness, stupid antics and Kevin Constant-level defending and I’d like a pay rise. Thank you.”
— Theo Hernandez
Wow kevin constant 🤣🤣
Kevin Constant lol.
I was traumatized by that guy, especially for a red he got for arguing after he was fouled in a game we needed
He’ll just try to see out his contract. Best to recruit in the summer and put him on gardening leave with Origi
They should get a proper back up for him. His contact should be extended. With a proper back , he can be recalibrate. The reason being that we don’t have money to buy quality players and we should not deceive ourselves. Let’s find a way of managing the key ones we have while gradually rebuilding the team. We can’t be starting from year zero every year and continuing changing the entire team. This practice will not work for us.
Theo has had his good years, but his year is not one of them and I think now is the time for a new left-back
To me there’s something really wrong with that French national team and the whole vibe that’s going on there.
Theo was at his best when he was left out of the team and he had to prove something. Same with Maignan who worked his ass off to become one of the best GKs in the world.
The guys become part of the group and suddenly they become error prone and arrogant.
They were hungry and eager to prove themselves in order to get to play with les Bleus and to be seen as the best players in the world in their respective positions.
Now I don’t know exactly how they think so I’ll be speculating from here one, but one can assume that once their objective was achieved, they were satiated and since it seem that they had a finish line in their mind so the desire to achieve more was no longer there.
There are many differences between players who are recognized as the greatest and those who aren’t, but one of them is that the former always strive for more and until they retire, will always aspire to do something they’ve never done or that was never done.
Your last paragraph is exactly right. It’s what separates the greats from “just another player”, or the men from the boys, if you will.
Vero Rossonero, I mean if you try stupid arguments it is easy to prove your point. When did any of those greats play 5 seasons without a substitute? Playing injured when necessary? Milan never had 1 player per position, except left back for the past 6 years. There were some backups but Theo had to play injured because they were so bad. And after 5 good seasons you cowards flock on him because you are losers. hat is what separates men from boys. You are a boy. Anyone can have a bad season.
His Heir already gone and Milan management was poor. What do you expect anymore ? He won’t renew and will be free. Another elite club will sign him. I think this is Theo strategy. Hehehe….
Keep dreaming buddy. No other big club would ever put up with Theo’s poor effort and selfish undisciplined behaviour. That’s why he wants to stay at Milan because he can do whatever he wants and still start every week. If you noticed the only club that asked about him during the transfer window was Como. That’s where he belongs. Nobody is more responsible the team’s failings this season than Theo.
Theo has been on a downwards trajectory a lot longer than just this season. Sure you can blame the limitations of the coach, incompetent management, atmosphere at the club and so on. But at some point you have to point the finger at Theo as well to be held accountable for his dropping levels of contribution.
Theo, and everyone else on a similar trajectory. Albeit, not very many players are left from the Scudetto winning season, so that leaves us with Leao and Mike outside of Theo. All three have been inconsistent. But they already renewed Leao.
As for Mike & Theo, guess they will have to wait into the summer to see their fate. If ultimately Theo is let go, he will have to blame himself and rue his dropping levels for the predicament he finds himself in.
Curious what the meeting with Maldini was about though.
Probably plotting more ways that Theo can sabotage Milan.
“hey Theo, Good job getting Fonseca fired. That was awesome when you stole the penalty away from Pulisic and missed and lost the Fiorentina game. Great job with the red card against Feyenoord and getting the team bounced from Champions League. Keep up the good work and make sure the club doesn’t finish in the top 4. Maybe if the team does bad enough they will ask me to come back.” Paolo Maldini
He is staying at Milan. 99.9%
Let us be honest this page is anti Theo, How many years Theo has been doing well with our team and scoring goals as a defender . What makes you a champion if you can’t play you support your team.
France have a strong match against a strong team away, Him showing up to support this teammate isn’t a crime that is professional and leadership. If we lose Theo, it will take us years looking for his replacement