The cooling break incident during the second half of the Lazio-Milan match continues to stir debate. After entering the game just before Milan’s equalizing goal, Theo Hernandez and Rafael Leao remained on the left flank, away from the bench where coach Paulo Fonseca was giving instructions to their teammates.
Former AC Milan player Paolo Di Canio did not hold back in his criticism during a live TV broadcast on Sky. He expressed his frustration, saying, “The apologists say they are young men earning nearly 8 million, captains at Milan! If this happened during a casual game with friends, I’d say ‘come here, we’re talking among ourselves,’ and we’re only paying 10 euros for the field. I don’t want to sound populist, but we’re talking about serious matters. This is a disgrace; he even acted as captain and just stood there chatting… It’s delegitimizing. What are you doing? The coach might seem calm now, but not him: the teammates in the locker room should really pin them to the wall with punches, asking what they’re doing. Teammates who might feel downgraded by their attitude.”
Fabio Capello, former Milan coach, also weighed in, comparing Theo and Leao to “two kids.”
The incident has sparked discussions about professionalism and team dynamics at Milan, with both former players highlighting the need for accountability and maturity among key squad members. As the international break approaches, the club hope to resolve these tensions and refocus on upcoming challenges.
