To recount the performance of Theo Hernandez in yesterday's derby against Inter in Riyadh, which secured the eighth Italian Supercup in Milan's history, La Gazzetta dello Sport decided to start from the end. After Sergio Conceição finished his celebratory dance with a cigar in his mouth, the Portuguese coach turned around, and the first person he embraced was Theo Hernandez, who was also dancing to the music with a smile on his face that hadn't been seen in months.
The Frenchman is rediscovered
The trip to Saudi Arabia not only brought the Supercup back to Milan's trophy cabinet after eight years but also saw a rejuvenated Theo Hernandez shedding the negative residue of an unrecognizable first part of the season.
Already after the Juventus game, there were glimpses of change: the match wasn't spectacular for the Frenchman, but Conceição hugged him in the post-match huddle. Yesterday, however, the number 19 returned to being the unstoppable train—both technically and in terms of character—that everyone remembered.
The Frenchman has become the symbol of the mental work Conceição seems to have achieved in just a few days. A free-kick goal and an assist for the 2-2, a leader’s attitude, and more flashes of brilliance. Then his post-match words: “I’m not at 100%, but I can help.” There's also a sense of awareness.
Now, what about Theo Hernandez' renewal?
According to the Italian newspaper, the former Real Madrid left-back recorded a game with both a goal and an assist for the first time in 1,200 days. That is another sign that he might indeed be returning to his best form.
Now, especially after an evening like yesterday’s, the expectation is to move swiftly toward a contract renewal.
Beyond technical and tactical aspects, Conceição’s work appears heavily focused on psychological factors, which could bring benefits far beyond on-pitch performance.
Theo's current contract expires in 2026, so ideally, an agreement should be reached before the summer.
A match like yesterday’s could be a significant boost to speeding up the process.
