UEFA Champions League 2018/19: Flop XI of the tournament

Central midfielder: Rodrigo (Atletico Madrid)

Rodrigo was flattered by Juventus

Still only 22, Rodrigo is an emerging talent and needs more refining. He’s shown promise in La Liga, but his performances in the Champions League have left a lot to be desired. He made fewer tackles (3.2 to 1.1), fewer interceptions (2 to 1.5), fewer dribbles (1 to 0.4), took fewer shots (0.7 to 0.5) and also laid fewer key passes (0.4 to 0.1). He was also completely run over by Juventus in the 3-0 reverse fixture as the pressure was too much to handle for him.

Central midfielder: Luka Modric (Real Madrid)

The Ballon d'Or winner has run out of steam

Los Blancos have resembled less of a team, and more of a train-wreck this season. With all the big names struggling big time - barring *surprise surprise* Karim Benzema - even the re-appointment of Zinedine Zidane has done little to change their fortunes. Midfield maestro Modric too has been below-par, and was completely over-run by a vibrant and youthful Ajax in the 4-1 thrashing. His average of 2.6 key passes in the league fell to 1.2 in the Champions League and ended the campaign with just a meagre assist.

Left winger: Frank Ribery (Bayern Munich)

Age has caught up with Ribery

To say Ribery has been poor would be blasphemous, for it’s the Ol’ Father Time that’s really catching up with him. Even at 36, the fact that he started six out of Bayern’s eight European games this season shows how valuable he still is to this side. However, very little of his former precocious self remains. He’s lost his pace. He’s lost his agility. He doesn’t terrorize the defences anymore. His only direct contribution for the Bavarians this season was a strike in the 5-1 battering of Benfica.

Right winger: Matteo Politano (Inter Milan)

Politano could do little in Inter's attacks

The Nerazzurri’s return to the Champions League after a six-year sabbatical was far from memorable as a group-stage exit cut the celebrations in the blue half of Milan short. Matteo Politano, roped in from Sassuolo for £27 million last summer, lost a big opportunity to make an immediate impact as he struggled to impose himself in the attacking half and was largely eclipsed by Mauro Icardi, who produced majority of the goods. As for Politano, the 25-year old ended the competition with just a solitary assist to show for his efforts in six outings.