The Cult of Calcio
·21 December 2024
In partnership with
Yahoo sportsThe Cult of Calcio
·21 December 2024
Milan manager Paulo Fonseca explained his decision to bench star left-back Theo Hernandez for the second Serie A game on the trot. The under-pressure Rossoneri boss addressed the media after overseeing a hard-earned 1-0 win at Hellas Verona.
Fonseca deployed up-and-coming Spaniard Alejandro Jimenez as left-back at Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegodi amid Hernandez’s uncertain future at Milan.
The 19-year-old started over the French superstar in last weekend’s tepid 0-0 home draw against Genoa, surpassing one of Europe’s most highly-rated offensive-minded full-backs in the pecking order.
However, following a relatively uneventful performance against the Griffins, Jimenez went from strength to strength in Veneto. He was among the most exciting performers as Tijjani Reijnders inspired Milan to a precious victory against the bottom-half strugglers.
Jimenez started as a left-back. However, after Rafael Leao’s injury midway through the first half, the prodigious teenager moved higher up the pitch and excelled.