Ibrahimovic Supports Fonseca’s Decision to Bench Theo Hernandez

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has expressed support for AC Milan coach Paulo Fonseca’s decision to drop Theo Hernandez from the starting lineup for the match against Genoa. This move comes in response to Fonseca’s recent criticism of players not giving their full effort.

Speaking before the game, Ibrahimovic stated, “The coach is looking for a reaction from the team. His public comments reflect what he’s said privately. We agree with his stance – the team needs to do more, and we’ll see if there’s a response tonight.”

Ibrahimovic drew parallels to a similar situation with Rafael Leao a few weeks ago, emphasizing that Hernandez, despite being one of the world’s best left-backs, needs to be at the top of his game. “The coach has high expectations for him. Theo will certainly return to the lineup, but the coach’s decisions must be respected,” Ibrahimovic added.

The decision to start young players from Milan Futuro, the club’s youth development program, is seen as an opportunity rather than a punishment. Ibrahimovic expressed curiosity about seeing Mattia Liberali in action, stating, “We have faith in our young talents who train regularly with the first team.”

As AC Milan celebrates its 125th anniversary, the team aims to honor its history by securing a victory against Genoa. The match, set to kick off at San Siro, will feature Milan wearing a special commemorative kit inspired by the club’s century-old design.