Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni had a night to forget in the recent clash against AC Milan.

His performance was far from his best, and his substitution at half-time felt almost inevitable for fans watching at Santiago Bernabeu.

Right from the moment his name was announced over the loudspeaker during the change, the crowd began to express their frustration, greeting him with boos.

This is because the former Monaco star was directly involved in both goals scored by Milan, which only added to the disappointment of the home supporters.

The first came when Tchouameni failed to meet Christian Pulisic's cross, barely leaping to meet it and offering little resistance, leaving the Real Madrid defence exposed.

The second goal was a series of mistakes on his part. It started with a poor pass that resulted in a loss of possession. Then, as Pulisic and Rafael Leao advanced, Tchouameni's efforts to press them lacked intensity, allowing Leao to fire home an easy finish.

Tchouameni's performance was also lacking in terms of defensive contribution, which is usually his main role. He managed just three clearances in his 45 minutes on the pitch - a low figure for someone expected to command the midfield.

Worryingly, this is not an isolated problem in the Champions League. In his four appearances so far in the competition, he has managed just 10 recoveries, putting him behind a staggering 227 other players in the tournament, including nine from his own team.

Even in La Liga, Tchouameni's recovery record is underwhelming. With just 44 recoveries to his name, he is outstripped by 19 other midfielders.

For a player of his calibre, especially one who has been entrusted with anchoring Real Madrid's midfield, these figures reveal an area of his game that needs significant improvement.

As Real Madrid continue to compete on multiple fronts, they will need Tchouameni to elevate his game if he hopes to justify his place in the starting line-up.