AC Milan’s hopes of advancing within the UEFA Champions League have been dashed on house soil as they have been eradicated by Feyenoord with a 1-2 defeat within the second leg of the playoffs. After the match, Milan’s Senior Advisor Zlatan Ibrahimovic took intention at referee Szymon Marciniak following his determination to indicate a purple card to Theo Hernandez.
The match began in favor of the house aspect, with star signing Santiago Gimenez scoring the opening objective simply 37 seconds into the sport. Nevertheless, Milan couldn’t capitalize on their early lead, failing so as to add a second objective to create a extra snug cushion. Within the 51st minute, Hernandez was proven a second yellow card for a dive contained in the field, leaving Milan a person down and finally resulting in their elimination.
Talking to Sky, Ibrahimovic criticized the referee’s determination, questioning the equity of the second yellow card: “I don’t assume it’s truthful to say he’s a diver or that he’s performing: he performs his sport and tries to do his greatest, these items simply occur on the sphere. The referee was harsh on the second yellow: in a sport like this, you give a warning for the subsequent scenario. As a substitute, he was robust, and the sport modified. We’re not indignant with Theo, however with ourselves: we ‘killed ourselves.’“
The legendary striker then shifted focus to the group’s future, urging them to regain momentum as they flip their consideration to Serie A. “We’re disillusioned, indignant. In tonight’s sport, we lacked maturity… Now, it’s necessary to assume as a gaggle, course of the defeat, and instantly give attention to the league, the place necessary challenges await us. We may’ve carried out much more within the 180 minutes, however then matches are supposed to be lived and performed, and that’s how these went.”
Marciniak’s purple card left AC Milan’s participation within the 2024-25 Champions League in ruins. With their European hopes dashed, Milan should now think about Serie A, the place they presently sit in seventh place, with the intention to safe an computerized qualification for subsequent season.
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AC Milan’s Santiago Gimenez reaches distinctive milestone within the Champions League after objective towards Feyenoord
Coach Conceicao helps Hernandez smid criticism
Theo Hernandez, who had already obtained a yellow card within the forty fourth minute for fouling a Feyenoord participant, discovered himself on the heart of controversy after his purple card. Milan followers have been divided over the 2 selections, however coach Sergio Conceicao stood by his captain, taking duty for the elimination.
“It’s not a brand new scenario for me, I’ve been by way of it many instances with Porto. I make errors, my gamers make errors, nevertheless it’s my face that represents Milan’s defeat, not Theo’s,” stated the Portuguese coach within the post-match press convention.
Regardless of the mounting criticism of Hernandez’s inconsistency this season, Milan’s coach reiterated his religion within the left-back: “I’ve identified him for some time, and I do know he can do extra, however his coach can do extra too.”
