Ilkay Gundogan hit out at his Barcelona teammates following their disappointing performance against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday night....CONTINUE READING
The Catalan giants crashed out of the Champions League after losing 4-1 to PSG in the second leg of their quarter-final clash.
Barcelona entered the tie at the Nou Camp 3-2 ahead and increased their advantage through Raphinha in the 12th minute of the game.
However, the tables turned when Ronald Araujo was sent off for fouling Bradley Barcola, allowing Ousmane Dembele, Vitinha and Kylian Mbappe to net for PSG.
Gundogan felt like Barcelona ‘gave the game away in the most simple of manners’ and stated Araujo ‘deserved’ to be sent off.
Ilkay Gundogan (pictured above) hit out at his Barcelona teammates following their disappointing performance against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday night
The Catalan giants crashed out of the Champions League after losing 4-1 to Paris Saint-Germain in the second leg of their quarter-final clash
Speaking after the game, Gundogan told CBS: ‘I am disappointed [with the result]. Very disappointed actually as we were in such a good position.
‘Not just after the first leg, but after the first goal we scored. Everything was in our hands and we just gave it away in the most simple of manners.’
He finished by saying: ‘We just gave it to Paris Saint-Germain and that’s the most disappointing part.’
Gundogan went on to discuss Araujo’s red card, claiming he should have let their goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen deal with Araujo instead of taking him down.
Gundogan said: ‘If he [Araujo] fouled him [Barcola], I guess it’s a red card. I haven’t seen the replay, I don’t know. You guys probably know better than me.
‘It’s difficult to say. You know, in these kind of crucial moments you need to be sure to get the ball. If you don’t, and again I don’t know if he touched the ball or not, but you need to stay away.
‘I would prefer to concede a goal there or give the striker 1v1. Although, the ball was played quite far ahead so I don’t even know if he would have reached the ball.
‘But, maybe let our goalkeeper save us or even concede a goal because to go a player down so early on just kills your game.’
Gundogan also spoke about Vitinha’s goal, claiming his team-mates needed to be more proactive in stepping out to the ball.
When asked about Barcelona’s second goals, the former Manchester City star said: ‘Again, it’s another mistake. We have to step out there. We can’t let him shoot because he was so free.
‘It wasn’t anything we haven’t trained before. The closest player to the ball has to step out. We were three with three and Vitinha was the fourth man. Someone has to step out.
‘No one did or they did it too late. It was a good shot and they got their second goal. But, it wasn’t necessary at all. It’s too late right now.’
More to follow…
