Milan: Leao and Reijnders’ magic spoiled by distracted Theo – Italian media’s ratings against Cagliari | OneFootball

Milan’s 3-3 draw away to Cagliari brought conflicting news for coach Paulo Fonseca as yet another weak defensive display obscured Rafael Leao’s progress.

The Rossoneri leaked three goals against the previously second-worst attack in Serie A, showcasing a staggering fragility, especially in their left flank, with Cagliari’s full-back Gabriele Zappa scoring a brace which exposed all Theo Hernandez’s limits as a defender.

Milan’s best and worst players against Cagliari

The France international was unanimously rated as Milan’s worst player on the pitch at the Unipol Domus, as Gazzetta dello Sport underlined his difficulties in closing the gaps down his side and his lack of attacking ‘push’, as he was also described as ‘extremely nervous’.

AC Milan’s Theo Hernandez in action during the Italian Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Venezia FC, in Milan, northern Italy, 14 September 2024. EPA-EFE/ROBERTO BREGANI

His rating was even worse for Corriere dello Sport (4), which wrote that Zappa and Nadir Zortea made his night ‘terrible’ by scoring from his flank, taking advantage of his ‘distracted’ defensive display.

On the other hand, Leao scored a Serie A brace for the first time since June 2023 and continued to impress after his recent brilliant performance at Real Madrid.

However, as much as he was the Rossoneri’s best-performing player for all Italian media, La Gazzetta dello Sport highlighted a ‘paradox’, as Milan ‘got lost’ every time the Portuguese stepped up to find the net.

epa11712038 Milan’s Rafael Leao celebrates with his teammates after scoring the 1-1 goal during the Italian Serie A soccer match between Cagliari Calcio and AC Milan, in Cagliari, Italy, 09 November 2024. EPA-EFE/FABIO MURRU

Tijjani Reijnders’ assist was another good news for Fonseca, as he was Milan’s best midfielder for both Gds and Corriere dello Sport, with the latter calling him ‘a magician’.

Francesco Camarda received a rating of 6/10 from all the main Italian sports outlets, as he remained on the pitch for 66 minutes before being replaced by Tammy Abraham.

The Rossoneri have conceded 14 goals from their first 11 Serie A games and will face Juventus, who scored at least two goals in each of their last four domestic fixtures, after the international break.