The most exalted in the good moments, the most criticized when the team goes badly, the two from which the Rossoneri destinies pass

Journalist

February 16 – 13:53 – MILAN

“The best of Milan in the first half was Leao.” Letta on X and Well, feel worse. A few Milan players at the end of the game insisted on the favorite sport of many fans – criticizing the number 10 – but the facts say that Rafa was decisive. He entered the beginning of the second half, played a better game than many others from the result and with Alex Jimenez put the Bebote Gimenez in goal. Said in another way: without leo, Milan with Verona probably would have taken one point. At the end of the game, a screen was shot with a statistics from the League: Leao in the last 5 seasons has given 36 assists, like no other in Serie A. The comments pass, the numbers remain.

Conceiçao’s hugs

Theo Hernandez a few minutes away walked for the San Siro lawn embraced to his coach. The game was just over, when Conceiçao went to embrace him and to tell him who knows what. More than words, the message matters. Theo is clearly experiencing a difficult moment, on the pitch and perhaps even outside, and it is seen, it is not him. He played worse than Lea and in the first half, on a couple of occasions, he went to half a speed, as if the player who dragged Milan to the Scudetto three years ago crossing the ball field to the foot no longer existed. Another embrace returns to Riad. At the end of the super cup semifinal with Juve, Conceiçao went to embrace Theo in the Huddle, the circle of players who tighten to speak. Not random that time too: it is clear that Conceiçao wants to recover the real Hernandez.

Como, Italy - Janogy 14: Theo Hernandez of AC Milan with His Teammate Rafael Leao After Scoring His Team's First Goal (1-1) During the Serie A Match Bethaeen Como and AC Milan at Stadium G. Sinigaglia on Janogy 14, 2025 in Como , Italy. (Photo by Claudio Villa/AC Milan via Getty Images)

Criticism and applause

Theo and Rafa. Rafa and Theo. Those two have always been together, on the band and the speeches of the people. The most exalted in the good moments. The most criticized when things are not good. The most interesting off the pitch, for a tattoo on the back or a bouquet of colorful pink hair. Zlatan Ibrahimovic at the end of the game, coincidentally, answered questions on both: “We are talking to Theo Hernandez for the renewal and both are happy to be at Milan. Leao is Leao, for this reason it is among the strongest in the world. It cannot be explained to him what to do at this level. He brings the numbers he brings and there is a reason because he is on the pitch. It will always be the reference of this team, today has entered and made the difference. What we ask him, enter the field and solve the games. We are Milan, there can be no single player who makes the difference “.

Couple always

The Milan players learned to know them – damn strong and damn discontinuous – and they learned to know Italy: they know that everything changes here in a quarter of an hour. They arrived together, five and a half years ago, and were at the center of the same voices and negotiations, with Arabia interested in Rafa and Como who made a sensational offer for Theo. They remained, as always, same city and the same band, linked by the usual destiny. Maybe they will continue for a long time or maybe they will leave soon, already in June. Together … and yes, it would make sense.



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