Rio Ferdinand has told BT Sport that Tottenham midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg played too negatively against AC Milan on Wednesday night – accusing the midfielder of being “scared”, refusing to take risks and passing backwards.
Spurs limped out of the Champions League with a whimper. Having lost the first leg 1-0, there was a confidence that being at home, Spurs would get the job done in the second leg. The game ended 0-0 – even with Antonio Conte back.
A dismal display that saw Spurs only really create one chance, a header from Harry Kane in the dying moments. His effort well saved by Spurs target Mike Maignan. Plenty of criticism has come in for Spurs, and manager Antonio Conte.
Speaking after the match, Ferdinand gave his take. He was full of criticism for Hojbjerg and the midfielder’s negativity with his passing, often moving the ball back to his defenders rather than taking a risk and trying to create something.
“We were saying play the ball forward. There’s no risk. How many times have gone, ‘passed it backwards again’. Not just Hojbjerg, but a lot of players. It is easy to sit in the stands and watch, but it is a lack of confidence – scared.”
Ferdinand: Tottenham midfielder Hojbjerg played too negatively
It is hard to find one player that actually played well on the night. Perhaps, Oliver Skipp did well. Fraser Forster kept a clean sheet. Ben Davies was solid. But, Spurs were woeful in the final third as they tried to create goals on the night.
Hojbjerg is a good player. He clocked up his 135th outing for Spurs on Wednesday, making Spurs the club in which he has played for most. The author of some brilliant moments in a Spurs shirt. But he simply is not the source of creativity.
It is hardly his fault either. Conte’s tactics mean Spurs lack a no.10 – and the club have lacked that kind of player since Christian Eriksen left to join Inter Milan. Hojbjerg is the kind of player that thrives when Spurs have a no.10 playing.
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