Capello criticises forwards in analysis of Milan’s defeat to Feyenoord: 'Too soft when they had to fight'

Fabio Capello was critical of AC Milan’s performance during their defeat to Feyenoord, but believes that the tie is far from lost.

Milan have left themselves with it all to do in the second leg of their Champions League play-off tie against Feyenoord as they lost the first leg 1-0 at De Kuip.

The only goal of the game came in the opening few minutes and in truth it will be one that Mike Maignan will not be happy with, as Igor Paixao’s shot from range somehow beat him at the near post.

There was a lot of talk in the build-up to the game about the ‘Fantastic Four’ and Milan’s potentially overwhelming forwards options, and yet they were kept out by a side that conceded 21 goals in eight games in the first phase.

Capello was covering the game for Sky and he gave his thoughts on a performance that – by the admission of key players like Rafael Leao and Tijjani Reijnders – was nowhere near the right level.

“Not enough from Milan. There was talk of imagination with four forwards, there was little of it: they all carried the ball too much and there was no real opportunity. They suffered too much on the counter-attack because the midfield didn’t break things up,” he said (via MilanNews).

“The thing that struck me most was the lack of moving the ball: everyone carried it and it was easy for the opponents to position themselves. The only one to try to dribble was Leao, but he always touched it one too many times.”