UCL: Ex-Italy coach slams Osimhen for lacklustre performance against Barcelona

Super Eagles of Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen has been heavily criticised by former Italy head coach Arigo Sacchi for his poor performance in Napoli’s UEFA Champions League (UCL) defeat to Barcelona on Tuesday.

Napoli secured a 1-1 draw in the first leg of the round of 16 clash at the Estadio Diego Armando Maradona on February 22, thanks to Oshimen’s equaliser.

However, the club’s hopes of qualification were quenched yesterday, as Barcelona defeated the Partonepie 3-1 to qualify for the quarterfinal on a 4-2 aggregate, handling Francesco Calzona his first defeat in charge of the Italian club.

Oshimen was silenced throughout the second leg by 17-year-old Pau Cubarsi, who was eventually voted the man of the match.

Sacchi, in his column for La Gazzetta dello Sport, expressed surprise at the minimal involvement of Osimhen and Kvicha Kvaratskhelia, despite the high expectations surrounding them.

“What surprised me the most was the little involvement of Kvara and Osimhen, the two most awaited players,” the 77-year-old wrote.

“It’s true that they didn’t get much service, but at the same time, they didn’t move much and they did it in the wrong way, so it was easy for opponents to stop them.”

This is the second time in the last seven days that Osimhen will be slammed for his performances for Napoli.

Following his penalty miss against Juventus in their Serie A Matchday 27 fixture, the 25-year-old’s penalty acumen was heavily questioned by ex-Napoli striker Stefan Schwoch.