Rio Ferdinand was furious with Gianluigi Donnarumma during PSG’s defeat against Barcelona (Image: TNT Sports)
Rio Ferdinand has accused Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of committing a ‘crime’ by not claiming the corner that led to Barcelona’s winning goal in the Champions League. Former Chelsea star Andreas Christensen bagged the decisive goal from a set-piece to give Barca a 3-2 advantage heading into the second leg.
Donnarumma had looked nervous when claiming crosses in the first half. Those errors appeared to hinder his confidence in the second period.
PSG came from 1-0 behind to lead 2-1 early in the second half. But an equaliser by ex-Leeds ace Raphinha levelled the scoreline for Barca.
Donnarumma then failed to claim the ball from a corner, instead remaining rooted to his line as Christensen thumped home a header from close range. Ferdinand believed that the mistake was so bad that it felt as though the Italian had committed a ‘crime’.
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Gianluigi Donnarumma stayed on his line before Andreas Christensen headed home (Image: TNT Sports)
“Let’s highlight the goalkeeper (Donnarumma) here when Christensen gets the winner. The goalkeeper in the first half, makes two mistakes from crosses,” TNT Sports pundit Ferdinand began.
“I think in his head he’s saying, ‘I’m going to stay on my line no matter what now, and let the responsibility fall on the defenders to defend this set piece’.
“That’s in his six-yard box, he’s six-foot-seven. That’s a crime, almost, not coming out into your six-yard box and not claiming that.
“There wasn’t a ball that was too high or too… it was there to be attacked. The impact of the first-half mistakes lead to that. This is a player at the top of the game that is having to adjust his approach to a certain set piece because of performance.”
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Fellow pundit Peter Crouch, known for his heading ability during his career, pointed out that Christensen would have known his header was a certain goal due to the space allowed by Donnarumma.
The former striker added: “If I’m Christensen there, your eyes are just lighting up. The goalkeeper’s not come, you’re like, ‘Oh my god’. All you’ve got to do is win that header and you know it’s a goal.
“You’re expecting a punch. He (Christensen) has gone in there with almost a free header. The reason he didn’t come out is because the first half scarred him. He came out and flapped at a couple, and obviously didn’t want to come out again for the third one.”
Source: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1887220/Rio-Ferdinand-PSG-Barcelona-Champions-League