Milan’s Champions League Hopes Dashed by Theo Hernández’s Costly Mistake
MILAN, Italy — In the world of football, moments of brilliance and blunders can often define the fate of a team. For Theo Hernández and AC Milan, it was a moment of the latter that turned the tide in their Champions League playoff second-leg clash against Feyenoord. With his shocking pink hair, Theo made a decision that left fans and teammates alike scratching their heads.
Games don’t often pivot on a single player’s decision, but this one did, costing Milan a place in the Champions League Round of 16. Milan, a goal down from the first leg, needed a two-goal victory to advance. They got off to a flying start, scoring within 60 seconds thanks to a Christian Pulisic cross, a Malick Thiaw nod back across goal, and new signing Santi Gimenez on hand to tuck it in.
With a 1-0 lead and nearly the entire match ahead, Milan seemed poised to secure the second goal they needed. Their opponents, Feyenoord, were struggling, having not been the same since Arne Slot left for Liverpool nine months ago. Feyenoord had already fired his successor, Brian Priske, and were missing ten players, forcing them to start three teenagers.
Milan dominated the first half, missing several chances to double their lead. They started the second half brightly, but then came the moment that changed everything. Rafael Leão fed Theo on the overlap, and as he sliced into the penalty area, he ran at defender Givairo Read and tumbled over his leg with no contact. Referee Szymon Marciniak had no choice but to show him a yellow card, followed by a red one.
Why? Theo had already been cautioned at the end of the first half for a pointless foul on Jakub Moder, which erupted in a melee. Some might justify trying to con the referee to win a penalty, but this wasn’t the time or place. Milan were playing well, and the second goal seemed inevitable.
After the match, Milan officials went out of their way to avoid scapegoating Theo. “The face of Milan’s defeat ought to be my face, not Theo’s … I’m the one responsible,” said Milan boss Sérgio Conceição. Club icon Zlatan Ibrahimovic echoed the sentiment, saying, “The referee was tough: in a game like this you usually just give a warning … we’re not angry at Theo, we’re angry at ourselves, we committed suicide out there.”
Feyenoord’s fans celebrated Theo’s exit as if they had scored. They understood the situation better than Theo. The tie was 1-1 on aggregate, but Milan couldn’t sit back and play for penalties. They were the home side, the pedigreed team, and they were built to attack. Playing a man down for nearly an entire second half was a big ask.
Suddenly, the tide turned in Feyenoord’s favor. Julián Carranza‘s header with 17 minutes to go tied the score on the night and put Feyenoord ahead on aggregate. Milan’s hopes were dashed, and frustration began to show.
Conceição’s changes didn’t help. He withdrew Pulisic and Gimenez, leaving Félix and Leão on the pitch. In a 10 vs. 11 situation, the former duo’s work-rate seemed more desirable. Leão looked like a boy racer, and Félix’s temperament was lacking. Ibrahimovic had said he expected his players to treat this game “like a final.” Until Theo’s sending off, they largely did. But with one poor decision, Milan’s European campaign unraveled.
- AC Milan needed a two-goal victory to advance.
- Theo Hernández received a red card for simulation.
- Feyenoord capitalized and advanced on aggregate.
In the end, Milan’s Champions League dreams were dashed by a series of unfortunate decisions, leaving fans and players to wonder what might have been.
Originally Written by: Gabriele Marcotti
