Italian media slammed Dejan Kulusevski for his performance for Tottenham Hotspur in the second leg against AC Milan. Spurs failed to overturn the Champions League last 16 deficit.
The Rossoneri flew to London with a 1-0 lead after Brahim Diaz’s goal after seven minutes at San Siro. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Harry Kane went closest to drawing Tottenham level on aggregate. But goalkeeper Mike Maignan kept Antonio Conte’s often-timid team at bay.
Hojbjerg tested Maignan with a powerful hit in the second half on Wednesday night. Kane then forced another strong save from the Frenchman in the closing stages. Yet those shots would also prove to be Tottenham’s only attempts directed on target at home to AC Milan.
Dejan Kulusevski could not inspire a Tottenham win at home to AC Milan
Per WhoScored, AC Milan blocked four of Tottenham’s nine shots on Maignan’s goal in the second leg of their Champions League last 16 tie. Spurs also directed three wide of the net, including an inviting header by Kane. Yet Kulusevski did not register a single effort on goal.
Conte afforded Kulusevski 83 minutes against AC Milan before Tottenham replaced the 22-year-old with Davinson Sanchez. Through the Sweden forward’s time on the pitch, he also failed to complete a successful dribble from two attempts. But he did create two chances.
Kulusevski carved out the first shot of the match as the winger found Emerson Royal in the 11th minute. He cut a pass to the wing-back on the edge of the Rossoneri’s area but Fikayo Tomori blocked Royal’s effort. He also fed Kane on 64 minutes but Tomori also blocked his.
Italian media slams Dejan Kulusevski for his performance in the 0-0 draw
Kulusevski has now offered just two goals and six assists through the winger’s 25 outings in all competitions this season. He has also only scored once since the first day of the Premier League term in August. While neither of his goal involvements came in a European fixture.
Conte gave Kulusevski his fourth game in the Champions League this season as Tottenham drew 0-0 with AC Milan. Yet the attacker Spurs paid Juventus £8.5m to hire on loan for 18 months with a £29m option to buy come this summer failed to impress TuttoMercatoWEB.
It wrote: “A good first half, a recovery at a slower pace. At least he’s the only one in attack who tries to do something. But he disappears when he pushes hard on the accelerator.”
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