The Major Culprits In Serie A’s Probable Worse Outing In The UEFA Champions League

Written By Onyeka Daniel

It definitely wasn’t a good day for Serie A clubs participating in the UEFA Champions League as we saw AC Milan and Atalanta crash out of the competition to opponents that can be considered inferior to them, hence the new format can be said to be providing a level playing field already.

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For the Rossoneri, they played a 1-1 draw against Feyenoord at the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium and this was enough to knock them out after they lost the first leg few days ago. Their manager, Sérgio Conceiçao tried to protect his players by claiming that he was responsible for the exit, but it is obvious where much of the blame lies.

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Santiago Gimenez scored against his former side less than 60 seconds into the game. However, Szymon Marciniak punished Theo Hernandez’s alleged dive after the break with a second yellow card. The coach believed that the referee’s decision changed everything in their early exit from Europe.

He also lamented that his side needed to be mentally stronger in a match they had been dominating until that moment. “It’s definitely a failure; we wanted to reach the Round of 16,” Conceiçao said at a post-match press conference.”

“This match showed that we are stronger than our opponent and that decisive moments made the difference, just like in Zagreb: a red card there, a red card today. You could say the referee was too harsh, but we needed to be mentally stronger. I am responsible, not Theo. We’ll discuss it in the locker room.”

“Theo has given a lot to Milan, and I’ve made many mistakes in my career.” He continued. Of course, it is pretty much obvious that the Theo incident changed the entirely direction of the game. This sentiment was also shared by former Milan director Zvonimir Boban, who lambasted the full-back after the costly red card.

He was already on a yellow card for a futile foul in midfield, which would’ve ruled him out of the next game anyway. He then ran Into the box after a give and go with Rafael Leao, but went down without contact from Givairo Read, receiving the second booking for simulation. It proved costly, as they crashed out on a 2-1 on aggregate.

Boban, who is a former Milan player and director, was a pundit in the Sky Sport Italia studio and certainly did not hold back. “Theo Hernandez has been doing this for years, I am stunned that nobody has already told him this or corrected his behaviour,” said Boban. “The second yellow card is absurd. It is indecent, unsporting.”

“You don’t do that, there’s no ifs and buts about it.” This is hardly the first time that the France international has been criticised for his attitude and it could affect the negotiations to extend his contract. “Since the start of the season we have seen a Theo who is nothing to do with the player we knew. He is just idle,” continued Boban.

“At the start, he just wasn’t very good at defending, then he improved a lot, but this season it feels like he isn’t even trying. Morally, this is a serious error. Why do that simulation? He’s a defender, he can charge forward with such pace, has great physicality, come on, going down like that…” He further added.

In the case of Atalanta, they lost to Club Brugge at the Gewiss Stadium and surprisingly, their coach, Gian Piero Gasperini blasted Ademola Lookman for stepping up to take a penalty. The moment could’ve changed the entire flow of the play-off with La Dea 3-1 down on the night, 5-2 on aggregate as Juan Cuadrado was brought down from behind.

Second half substitute Lookman took the ball and saw his central effort parried by Simon Mignolet, sapping enthusiasm from the squad and effectively ending their hopes of a comeback. In his press conference after the match, Gasperini made a remarkable revelation and pointed the finger squarely at the Nigeria international.

“Lookman was not supposed to take that penalty, he is one of the worst penalty takers I’ve ever seen,” said Gasperini. “He has a frankly terrible record even in training, he converts very few of them. Retegui and De Ketelaere were there, but Lookman in a moment of enthusiasm after scoring decided to take the ball and that was a gesture I did not appreciate at all.”

This is not the first time Lookman has infuriated a coach with his penalty antics, as his terrible Panenka attempt for Fulham against West Ham United in November 2020 went down in history. It Is hardly the first time that penalties have been costly for Atalanta, because they have a shocking record from the spot this season.

Mateo Retegui failed to convert against both Arsenal and Torino, games that ended 0-0 in the Champions League and Serie A. Mario Pasalic also got it wrong with Torino in a 2-1 defeat, while Lookman saw his saved by Simon Mignolet tonight against Club Brugge. The only players who have successfully converted penalties this season are Retegui (two out of four) and Charles De Ketelaere.

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Meanwhile, Gasperini also hit out at captain Rafael Toloi after he saw red in the final minutes for chasing down Maxim de Cuyper, even held back by officials from physically attacking him. “That was an ugly incident and we must never lose our heads. Atalanta must leave the UCL with dignity, having played great games against the likes of Real Madrid, Arsenal and Barcelona.” He further added.

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