The reinvigoration of Theo Hernandez represents an immense boon for AC Milan, as the Frenchman has returned to full throttle recently. His high-octane performance against Monza saw him initiate multiple incisive actions, come perilously close to scoring the second goal, and contribute to De Ketelaere's lamentable's goal scoring chance. Despite the latter being a fortuitous byproduct of a preceding action, it was entirely "made in Theo", as written by La Gazzetta dello Sport. The Frenchman's agility and tenacity in advancing the ball, particularly through central channels, have been crucial to Pioli's tactical setup.
The defender, with two goals and three assists under his belt this season, leads the team in shots on goal with an impressive 37 attempts. While he has completed fewer successful dribbles than Empoli's Fabiano Parisi, he has amassed an impressive 30 key passes. Last season, Theo concluded the campaign with a 65% dribbling success rate. He remains the linchpin of the Rafael and Theo axis, colloquially dubbed "Theao", which has borne fruit on the external flank. This configuration has been tested before, most recently during the September 2021 match against Finland, when he played as a winger in a four-man midfield. Theo also served as an external winger during the Nations League semi-final and final against Spain and Belgium, delivering a goal and an assist in both games. He continued to impress in November 2021 against Kazakhstan, providing another two winning passes in an 8-0 rout, this time as an attacking winger.
While he was fielded as a full-back during the last World Cup, Theo's versatility and adaptability have demonstrated his ability to perform in multiple systems. In his last three matches, he has been back to his usual form, providing an assist for Giroud against Torino, contributing to a crucial win against Tottenham, and putting in a solid shift against Monza.
However, his characteristic platinum blonde hair still graces his head, drawing attention on social media. Many have opined that his performances have improved since the hair transformation. Regardless, Pioli is hopeful that Theo's form will endure, dye job intact.
