Player Ratings: Shamrock Rovers 0 - 2 AC Milan (September 17 2020)

The fairytale didn’t have its happy ending for Shamrock Rovers on Thursday night as the Hoops fell to a 2-0 defeat to AC Milan and elimination from the Europa League.

Goals midway through either half from Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Hakan Calhanoglu (read Macdara Ferris' report here) proved the difference but Rovers had enough chances to have potentially written a different ending.

The Rossoneri were good value for their win, however, and were very impressive in spells despite having a few hairy moments in defence, particularly their inability to deal with Aaron Greene.

Hoops boss Stephen Bradley summed up his feelings as ‘proud’ after the game, and Rovers can indeed take in pride in giving a good account of themselves against one of Europe’s top sides.

Alan Mannus – 7/10

May be disappointed to have been beaten by Ibrahimovic at the near post for Milan’s opener, though the power of the disguised shot undoubtedly contributed. Looked uncharacteristically shaky on a couple of occasions but one outstanding stop, in particular, from a Calhanoglu free-kick kept Rovers in touch.

Joey O’Brien – 7/10

The 32-year-old’s experience in this competition, with both Bolton Wanderers and West Ham United, was always going to be something Rovers would need to draw on. He’ll be angry with himself for losing Ibrahimovic for the goal, but he joins a long list of defenders with that regret. Always brave with the ball and his ball down the line led to a chance for Aaron Greene to equalize.

Roberto Lopes – 9/10

A totem at the back for the Hoops. Lopes’ reputation grows and grows and he seems to relish European football in particular. His mishit clearance made his somewhat culpable for the opener but Lopes put his body on the line and made some crucial interventions for his team, including one impeccable tackle on Ibrahimovic harshly judged a foul.

Lee Grace – 7/10

His yellow card early in the second half prompted the comedy moment of the night as O’Brien blurted out ‘fuck off, ref’ before making himself scarce. Grace struggled the most of the three defenders with Milan’s sophisticated pressing but never hid from the ball and got up the pitch at times.

Ronan Finn – 8/10

A game of two halves for the skipper, who was given a thorough examination in the first half by Milan’s blonde bombers Théo Hernandez and Alexis Saelemaekers. Ireland manager Stephen Kenny remarked that he was ‘almost playing as a winger’ at times, and he demonstrated the point after the break by leaving Théo for dust on a couple of occasions. Might have tested Donnarumma more with a header just before half time.

Gary O’Neill – 7/10

It was always bound to be a difficult night for Rovers’ midfield trio with Zlatan Ibrahimovic dropping back to help out the likes of Franck Kessié and Hakan Calhanoglu in midfield, so he didn’t have as many opportunities as he normally would do get on the ball. Looked nervous in the opening period but settled into the game well.

Aaron McEneff – 9/10

Threw himself in front of Milanese shots with all the zeal and reckless abandon of a presidential bodyguard diving in the way of a bullet, with one denial of Samu Castillejo in the first half keeping Rovers in a game at a time when it could have quickly unravelled. Showed plenty of drive to bring the ball upfield when the opportunity arose and, like his teammates, never hid.

Neil Farrugia – 7/10

His selection ahead of the in-form Danny Lafferty, who has started and scored in each of the Hoops’ two most recent wins, was a huge show of confidence from his manager. Struggled to get into the game at first but showed his quality with a cross late in the first half that Finn should have done better with.

Jack Byrne – 8/10

The reigning player of the year is in his element in European games and enjoyed the challenge of a steep step up in quality. Was caught in possession a couple of times early on but soon re-adjusted to the pace and imposed himself as a creative force in the game, setting up Greene’s early chance with a strong drive forward and precise pass, while his all-round distribution was typically excellent.

Graham Burke – 7/10

Preston North End loanee Burke hasn’t played the full 90 minutes too often since football returned but his creativity, willingness to take the ball in tight situations and capability to produce something from nothing were needed. Worked tirelessly out of possession but had few opportunities to find room for a shooting opportunity, though he didn’t lose patience.

Aaron Greene – 9/10

It didn’t happen for the Kilnamanagh man in front of goal but if ever a non-scoring performance from a striker deserved to be highlight, it was this one. Greene’s lack of prolificness is a bugbear of some but he sets the tone for the first line of defence and is irreplaceable in the Rovers team as the organiser of the high press that created many problems for the Milan defence. His pace and physicality troubled Kjaer, in particular, and he worked the world-class Donnarumma three times.

Dylan Watts – 7/10

Introduced in place of O’Neill for the final 20 minutes and made a nuisance of himself, with one smart pirouette leading to a shot on target, albeit one that had the sting taken out of it by a smart block.

Sean Kavanagh & Dean Williams – N/A

Neither on long enough to rate but it was great to see Kavanagh return following a serious injury in pre-season, while Williams will have many more special European nights in Tallaght.

Stephen Bradley – 9/10

The gaffer got it spot on and backed up his pre-match comments, which suggested Rovers had the players to trouble Milan and would cause them problems. Pre-match talk was around whether he’d compromise his principles to play more conservatively but Rovers played on the edge and took risks, at times to fault, but they were tactically superb and played to their strengths.