Ajax head coach Frank De Boer is not pleased with Mario Balotelli’s on-the-field antics, after the Italian forward drew a last-gasp penalty for AC Milan.
Balotelli and Ajax defender Mark van der Hoorn got into a minor tussle in the box, which referee Jonas Eriksson awarded a penalty for. De Boer says Balotelli made a meal of the contact in order to draw a penalty.
“With Balotelli you know he can score from scratch and create theatre. That cost us two points,” said de Boer.
Ajax took on Milan in UEFA Champions League play on Wednesday, with de Boer’s side nearly winning the game on the 90-minute mark when Stefano Denswil headed a corner past Cristian Abbiati. However, Balotelli won a penalty minutes later in added time, one he converted to level the game for Milan.
“This point comes with a bitter taste,” de Boer continued. “At the end of the day I can live with a point, but to concede with the penalty was disappointing. There are always moments of contact in the box. It’s about letting go at the right moment and Van Der Hoorn did that. It was ridiculous that penalty was awarded.
“We dominated the first half with very good positional play and also had our chances,” said de Boer. “After the break we made more wrong choices and were restless. Milan were more in the game.”
“If you create three or four good chances in today’s football, you must score at least one,” de Boer concluded.
Milan sit second in Group H with four points, behind Barcelona with six after the Spanish side defeated Celtic 1-0, courtesy of a goal by Cesc Fabregas.
Balotelli PULLED van der Hoorn down! He has no class and does not hold the spirit of the game. He is a cheating, diving idiot.
Balotelli PULLED van der Hoorn down! He has no class and does not hold the spirit of the game. He is a cheating, diving idiot.