"?Manuel Locatelli has apologised for the rash tackle that reduced AC Milan to 10 men in their eventual 2-1 Coppa Italia quarter-final defeat to Juventus.
The midfielder saw red after lunging into a challenge with Juventus striker Paulo Dybala, and was given his marching orders for a second bookable offence just moments after Carlos Bacca had halved the deficit in Turin.
The loss of Locatelli all be ended Vincenzo Montella's men's chances of coming from behind to force the last-eight tie into extra time, as first-half goals from Dybala and Miralem Pjanic ended up being enough to allow Juventus to progress to the semi-finals.
Speaking after the clash at the Juventus stadium, Locatelli held his hands up and told Rai Sport reporters (via "?Football Italia) he was sorry for the mistake that had cost his side a chance to fight their way back into the tie.
He said: "I apologise to the club, my teammates, the fans and the Coach for my naïve error.
"I got it wrong and it's right to admit that, I come here and acknowledge my mistake. I let myself get swept up in the moment. We'd just scored and I wanted us to get right back at them. I have to improve this part of my game."?
53': Carlos Bacca scores ??
54': Manuel Locatelli sent off ?
Peaks and troughs for Milan... pic.twitter.com/eoSgB58sS5
The loss to Massimiliano Allegri's men was the third game in succession that MIlan have conceded two goals inside the first half hour of matches. Asked about whether the San Siro-based side had defensive issues, 18-year-old Locatelli was at a loss to explain why he and his team-mates kept conceding so early.
He added: "I don't know what happens at the start. We had talked before the game, but were still unable to stop this trend. When you face big teams like Juve, it's not easy to turn it around."?
Milan face Udinese at the Stadio Friuli on Sunday as they go in search of reeling in Serie A leaders Juventus - a match Locateli will sit out through suspension.
Read more from Tom Power by following him on Twitter!