BT Sport pundit Robbie Savage has criticised Ryan Bertrand for his role in Napoli’s second goal as Leicester City lost 3-2 in Italy on Thursday evening.
The Foxes came into the fixture top of the pile in Group C but with the hosts proving too strong in Naples and Spartak Moscow winning at Legia, they were knocked out of the competition.
Napoli got off to the perfect start with a fine strike from Adam Ounas in the fourth minute and Elif Elmas doubled their advantage in the 24th minute.
From Leicester’s perspective, the second goal was very much avoidable.
On first look, Andrea Petagna appeared to be offside when he was played through by Piotr Zielinski before squaring for Elmas to tap home.
However, replays showed that Foxes left-back Bertrand had failed to step up in time and had played the Italian striker well onside.
Former Leicester star Savage wasn’t happy about the lapse.
Savage criticises Leicester defender Bertrand after Napoli error
“Bertrand can see right along the line there,” he said [BT Sport 1 09/12 18:45]. “It’s poor defensive play. He’s so deep.”
“If he steps up he’s offside. Leicester without the ball, defensively, I don’t think were good enough tonight.”
Savage returned to the topic later in the show and expressed similar frustrations.
“He (Bertrand) can clearly see that he (Petagna) is in an onside position, he’s surely got to step up,” he added.
“Bertrand then appealing for offside when he can quite clearly see it’s on…it’s unacceptable.”
Leicester got themselves back into the game through goals from Jonny Evans and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall but ran out of steam in the second half, with Elmas netting what would turn out to be the winner in the 53rd minute.
It was a tough night for Brendan Rodgers’ side in the torrential rain at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona and Bertrand will likely be rueing his defensive mistake.
It’s understandable that the 32-year-old was rusty, though, given that he hadn’t featured for over a month before being handed a start in such a high-profile fixture.
Perhaps he’ll receive more opportunities in the Europa Conference League after the turn of the year.
In other news, a Newcastle player has finally apologised to West Ham fans.
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