AC Milan’s hopes of advancing within the UEFA Champions League have been dashed on dwelling 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 goal at referee Szymon Marciniak following his resolution to indicate a crimson card to Theo Hernandez.
The match began in favor of the house facet, with star signing Santiago Gimenez scoring the opening purpose simply 37 seconds into the sport. Nevertheless, Milan couldn’t capitalize on their early lead, failing so as to add a second purpose 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 in the end resulting in their elimination.
Talking to Sky, Ibrahimovic criticized the referee’s resolution, questioning the equity of the second yellow card: “I don’t assume it’s honest to say he’s a diver or that he’s performing: he performs his recreation and tries to do his greatest, these items simply occur on the sphere. The referee was harsh on the second yellow: in a recreation like this, you give a warning for the following scenario. As a substitute, he was powerful, and the sport modified. We’re not offended with Theo, however with ourselves: we ‘killed ourselves.’“
The legendary striker then shifted focus to the crew’s future, urging them to regain momentum as they flip their consideration to Serie A. “We’re dissatisfied, offended. In tonight’s recreation, we lacked maturity… Now, it’s necessary to assume as a bunch, course of the defeat, and instantly deal with the league, the place necessary challenges await us. We might’ve completed much more within the 180 minutes, however then matches are supposed to be lived and performed, and that’s how these went.”
Marciniak’s crimson 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 at the moment sit in seventh place, with a purpose to safe an automated qualification for subsequent season.
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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 middle of controversy after his crimson card. Milan followers have been divided over the 2 choices, however coach Sergio Conceicao stood by his captain, taking accountability for the elimination.
“It’s not a brand new scenario for me, I’ve been by way of it many occasions with Porto. I make errors, my gamers make errors, but it surely’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 recognized him for some time, and I do know he can do extra, however his coach can do extra too.”
