Theo Hernandez continues to struggle with AC Milan, unfortunately. Paulo Fonseca has not been able to enjoy the high-level performances of the French left-back.
According to what is reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport on their website this morning, Paulo Fonseca has shown him video clips highlighting his defensive mistakes, which are not the first in this recent period.
The former Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid player is aware he’s not at his best, particularly from a physical standpoint, and he has admitted this, knowing it’s up to him to regain peak form. The coach has demanded a reaction, asking him to block out distractions and focus solely on the pitch.
Fonseca wants Theo Hernandez performing at his highest level.
It remains to be seen whether he’ll give Hernández a rest against Genoa to reset mentally. One thing is certain: Paulo expects a swift response. The same goes for Davide Calabria and Fikayo Tomori, two key players from the Scudetto-winning season.
The captain, who left the field visibly angry (and booed by the fans), confided to close associates that he wasn’t upset with the coach for substituting him but was frustrated with his own poor form.
Meanwhile, the English defender, who received a booking for protesting while warming up and is now suspended for the Champions League, has seen his playing time dwindle.
This comes after a penalty incident in Florence involving his friend and compatriot Abraham, which also caused friction. At the start of the season, he was considered irreplaceable. Now, things are not going well.
Milan, a double meeting?
Beyond his frustration with individual players, Fonseca’s dissatisfaction stems from how the team collectively approached the match against Red Star Belgrade—an opponent they should have defeated more easily. He was deeply disappointed, especially after days of warnings and tactical preparation, to see the errors made, particularly in the second half, when Milan came dangerously close to not winning.
On Wednesday night, he vented immediately in the directors' lounge, speaking with Ibrahimovic, Furlani, and Moncada. Later, he expressed the same sentiments, animatedly, to the players and media.
Without singling out individuals, he criticised the team’s attitude. Those who think he was speaking out of nervousness or regret misunderstand his intent; he deliberately emphasized those points publicly to provoke a reaction.
He’s well aware that Milan’s league performance this season has been worse than last year and is actively looking for a turnaround.
Fonseca has been addressing these issues with individual meetings, a common practice since his arrival at Milanello.
Yesterday morning, the Portuguese coach arrived at the Carnago training center at 9:15 AM CET and left at 2:40 PM CET, accompanied by a staff member.
Later, he visited Casa Milan to review the situation with the club, which reiterated its full support for his approach. The absence of club executives at Milanello that morning shouldn’t be seen as disengagement but rather as a conscious decision to avoid undermining the coach’s authority. He is the sole figure responsible for technical matters, with Ibrahimovic and the management team standing by his side.
Fonseca's smiles with the AC Milan youth academy...
Fonseca concluded his day by attending a youth academy event at San Siro, where 400 boys and girls took turns entering the locker room and meeting the men’s and women’s first teams. It was a delightful surprise for the kids to high-five Leão and others. In a cheerful atmosphere, Fonseca answered a young Brazilian girl’s question in Portuguese: “What do you say to the team when they play well but lose?” His reply: “I tell them I’m not satisfied with the result but that I trust them. The boys must be supported.” On Wednesday night, he did the exact opposite—deliberately.
Even Theo, as vice-captain, was very approachable. When a child asked if they could visit his house to learn how to play football, he smiled and replied, “Of course you can come, either to my house or Milanello.” Applause followed
