- Pundit Rio Ferdinand criticised ‘rash’ Serge Aurier in the Champions League
- The Tottenham right back gave away a cheap first half penalty which was missed
- Ferdinand insisted he has ‘never rated’ Auirer’s ability as a top-level defender
- Aurier was restored to the side in place of Englishman Kieran Trippier for the tie
- But the Ivorian was booked in the second half and will miss the second leg
Rio Ferdinand tore into a ‘rash’ Serge Aurier after the Tottenham right back gave away a first-half penalty away to Juventus in the Champions League.
After finding themselves 2-0 down after a frantic opening ten minutes, Spurs responded well and reduced the deficit through talismanic striker Harry Kane.
But a moment of madness from the Ivorian defender saw him slide in rashly on Douglas Costa and German referee Felix Brych had no option but to award Juventus their second penalty of the game.
Rio Ferdinand tore into Tottenham right back Serge Aurier after his nightmare half against Juve
The Ivorian gave away a penalty after a rash challenge on pacey winger Douglas Costa
‘As a defender I have never really rated Aurier,’ Ferdinand said. ‘He’s rash and he’s let his team down far too often.’
Fellow BT Sport pundit Steven Gerrard concurred with Ferdinand about Aurier’s shortcomings and the former Liverpool captain insisted the defender is ‘very lucky’ the tie remains in the balance.
Argentinian striker Higuain hammered the penalty against the crossbar to let Aurier off but the Ivorian’s nightmare evening continued early in the second when a foul on Alex Sandro saw him booked – ruling him out of the return leg at Wembley next month.
Ferdinand insisted he has ‘never rated’ Aurier’s ability as a defender and claimed he is ‘rash’
Steven Gerrard concurred and suggested the Spurs man is ‘very lucky’ the tie is not all over
Two set pieces set the Italians on their way with a free-kick and then a penalty showing Tottenham how punishing the Champions League can be.
And for Ferdinand, who lifted the Champions League with Manchester United in 2008, insisted there is no room for lapses in concentration in Europe’s elite competition.
‘Spurs after an awful start showed fantastic maturity, the reaction and response was huge,’ the BT Sport pundit said.
‘The concentration at this level has to be on the money from minute one but it was a shambles. All of the back four outside of the post for the first goal is criminal.’