For the first few minutes, everything looked promising. Santiago Gimenez found the net almost instantly, equalizing the aggregate and igniting hope around the stadium.
But the hope was short-lived.
A dramatic turning point
Theo Hernandez, who had already been cautioned for an earlier shove, attempted to draw a penalty in the 51st minute.
Replay after replay showed there was no contact. Polish referee Szymon Marciniak reached for the yellow card, then raised it again to confirm Hernandez’s expulsion. Paul Dempsey, commentating live for TNT Sport, exclaimed, “He is in serious trouble here. Hernandez is sent off for simulation. What a twist in the plot tonight!” His colleague Adam Virgo was just as blunt. “It is a great call. That is blatant cheating,” he said. “No mate, you’ve not been touched. Two yellows, off you go.”
Down to ten men, Milan struggled. Feyenoord capitalized as Julián Carranza found an equalizer, breaking the hearts of the Rossoneri faithful. Zvonimir Boban, watching the debacle unfold on Sky Sport, wasn’t shy about assigning blame. “We need to go to the root of the problem,” he said. “Tonight, Theo is undoubtedly the main culprit.”
Fans and pundits alike tore into Hernandez. Some labeled his dive an act of desperation that jeopardized not only Milan’s Champions League hopes but also the club’s fragile morale. Online, supporters called for younger, hungrier players to replace those who have, in their view, lost the fighting spirit.
From the dugout, head coach Stefano Pioli tried to rally his team with late substitutions, but the damage was done. Milan’s exit was sealed when the final whistle blew, echoing across a stadium stunned by disappointment. While Christian Pulisic and Yunus Musah attempted to spark some life into the team, it wasn’t enough to overcome the numerical disadvantage.
Now, Milan faces a critical juncture. Their Serie A position remains precarious, and their chances of European play next season hinge on a strong domestic finish. Boban’s words will likely linger in the dressing room: a stark reminder that one moment of poor judgment can shift a club’s entire trajectory.
Short of redemption on the pitch, Milan supporters are left wondering how long it will take for their team to regain a foothold in Europe’s elite competition—and whether Theo Hernandez can rebuild the trust he’s lost among those who once held him in such high regard.
