AC Milan
AC Milan fans are blasting one star for his mediocre display in Inter defeat.

AC Milan striker Olivier Giroud was brutally trolled after the seven-time European champions lost 2-0 to Inter Milan in the first leg of their Champions League semi-finals on Wednesday. Edin Dzeko and Henrikh Mkhitaryan scored in the first 11 minutes to put the Nerazzurri on the verge of the final in Istanbul next month.

Milan were second best for the majority of the game, but they improved as the game went. After the intermission, both Brahim Diaz and Junior Messi came close to scoring. The Nerazzurri, on the other hand, cruised to victory, taking a commanding advantage into the second leg. Inter are one step closer to their first appearance in the Champions League final since 2010.

AC Milan
Oliver Giround has found himself in the line of fire of AC Milan fans, after failing to turn up against Inter in Champions League semifinal defeat. Credits: Twitter

Giround flops for AC Milan in the absence of Rafael Leao

Just 90 minutes before kick-off, AC Milan fans were jolted by the absence of one name from their starting lineup: Rafael Leao. The Portuguese forward, who was named Serie A’s player of the season last season after leading Stefano Piolo’s side to victory, had propelled Milan past newly-crowned champions Napoli in the quarter-finals, best demonstrated by his wonderful assist in the second leg.

However, Leao suffered a thigh injury just 11 minutes into Saturday’s match against Lazio, leaving him out of the first leg entirely, despite practising on Tuesday. Rafael Leao, Stefano Pioli’s team had their work cut out for them, but Giroud was also a non-factor. He didn’t get a single shot on goal and only completed nine passes while losing possession 11 times.

Leao was intended to be the thorn in Inter’s side, as he had been in September, when he scored twice and assisted once in a 3-2 win, and also a catalyst to bring Giround in the game. However, Leao’s absence from the front line was the least of AC Milan’s concerns following a horrific first 18 minutes.

On Twitter, fans chastised the Frenchman for his awful performance, as there was no escaping the fans’ wrath. Here are the best reactions: