Even the boos at half-time were “middle” and that damning description of the Tottenham Hotspur squad, delivered by Antonio Conte last week, would be kind on goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini.

Sat next to managing director of football Fabio Paratici on the Spurs bench, first-choice goalkeeper Hugo Lloris will have watched his negotiating position over a new contract become even stronger as Gollini missed the corner from which Antonio Rudiger settled the Carabao Cup semi-final tie for Chelsea. 

Paratici must have felt like sinking into his chair out of view. What on earth did he see in Gollini to bring the Italian to Tottenham, even on loan? He certainly cannot have watched much of the 26-year-old at Aston Villa, where he had been just as bad during his first spell in English football.

Just over 24 hours before Wednesday night’s second leg, Conte had said that he was positive “the people responsible to do this” would get a new Lloris contract signed, sealed and delivered as soon as possible. Given Paratici’s Tottenham track record so far, the Spurs fans may not share his confidence.

Lloris has entered the final six months of his contract and, even aged 35, the World Cup winner with France would be a huge loss to Tottenham.

“You know very well what I think about Hugo,” said Conte on Tuesday. “Also previously I spoke and said that he’s our captain, he is a top goalkeeper for us, he has great experience. For me he is an important player and I’m sure that they are going to find a solution for him to continue to play with Tottenham.

“I am not the person that speaks to renew the contract with the players. There is the club and the people that do this. But for sure I am very confident about this situation to be positive.”

Given that statement and a less than convincing appearance in the FA Cup against League One Morecambe, it was a major surprise that Conte started with Gollini ahead of Lloris.