Rio Ferdinand criticized Gianluigi Donnarumma’s hesitation in the six-yard box, calling it “almost criminal” after PSG’s loss to Barcelona.

Gianluigi Donnarumma, the Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper, faced criticism from TNT Sports pundit Rio Ferdinand following his team’s defeat to Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final. Ferdinand highlighted Donnarumma’s mistakes, particularly in the first half, which led to PSG conceding goals.

The first goal came as a result of Donnarumma’s failure to claim a ball into his box, allowing Raphinha to score. In the second half, the Italian goalkeeper was again at fault when Barcelona scored their third goal from a corner. Donnarumma refused to come off his line, giving Andreas Christensen the opportunity to head the ball into the net.

Ferdinand expressed his disappointment with Donnarumma’s performance, stating, “Highlight the goalkeeper here. In the first half, the goalkeeper makes two mistakes from crosses.” He also criticized Donnarumma for not taking responsibility for defending the set piece and relying on his defenders instead.

Peter Crouch, another TNT Sports pundit, agreed with Ferdinand’s assessment. He emphasized the missed opportunity for Barcelona, saying, “If I’m Christensen there, your eyes are lighting up. The goalkeeper’s not come, you’re like ‘Oh my God!’ All you’ve got to do is win that header, and you know it’s a goal if he’s on his line.”

Crouch speculated that Donnarumma’s hesitation to come off his line in the second half was due to his earlier mistakes in the game. He suggested that the goalkeeper’s confidence was affected, leading him to be cautious in his approach.

Overall, Donnarumma’s performance was heavily criticized by the TNT Sports pundits, who believed that his mistakes had a significant impact on PSG’s defeat to Barcelona in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final.