Usually in the starting lineup of Milan before the arrival of Paulo Fonseca, Theo Hernandez and Rafael Leão played the main roles on Saturday, in a moment that is considered controversial in Italy. The pair, who were an option for the Portuguese coach only in the second half of the game against Lazio, considered the third matchday of Serie A 2024/25, played a decisive role in scoring the goal that guaranteed the Rossoneri a draw (2-2), preventing the team from suffering a second consecutive defeat in the league.
Shortly after combining for the Portuguese goal, the duo failed to join the team and coach on the bench during the water break to which Lazio and Milan players were entitled, and the Italian sports press was quick to react.
“A very unexpected scene during the Lazio-Milan match. Outside the eleven, Theo Hernandez and Rafael Lean (who entered the game in the 70th minute and scored the second goal shortly after) did not participate in the teams’ hydration break that took place immediately after. The two remain at the other end of the field,” writes Italian journalist GuillaumeMP, the newspaper’s correspondent. Eurosport Francein the social network “X”.
“Rafael Leão and Theo Hernández were punished by Fonseca and were not included in the team. Both entered the field and did not participate in the players’ hydration break with the coach,” also wrote Jose Rodríguez, a sports commentator DAZN Spainwith Fabrizio Biasin, another Italian journalist who took to social media to talk about the “climate of tension” that apparently exists between Rafael Leao, Theo Hernandez and Paulo Fonseca.
Let us recall that a few minutes before the start of the match, Paulo Fonseca explained DAZN Italy the reason that prompted him to exclude the duo from the initial options. “Maybe people will take this decision as a punishment, but it will never be about that. It was a choice we had to make. Theo is not well physically. I spoke to them and they understood. We have to make decisions for the team and what is best for the team. Today we have to be a team if we want to win. My choice is based on the players’ moment, the team and what we need for each game,” the Portuguese coach said.