The midfielder expressed “disappointment” and admitted that he would have preferred conceding a goal rather than suffering an expulsion.
Barcelona was eliminated from the Champions League in the quarterfinals, after losing 4-1 in the return leg against Paris Saint-Germain. Despite Raphinha putting the Catalans ahead, the French team turned the game around with goals from Dembele, Vitinha, and a double from Mbappe.
In the post-match ‘flash interview,’ Ilkay Gündogan gave an interview to CBS Sports, a private television network in the United States.
“I am disappointed, very disappointed. We were in a good position, not only after the first leg but also after our first goal. It was in our hands, and we handed it to PSG. We gave it to them the easiest way,” he started.
He was asked about Araujo’s expulsion, and the German did not hold back and was critical. “It’s hard to say, but at such crucial moments, you have to be sure if you go for the ball. I don’t know if he touched the ball or not… I prefer to concede a goal or even allow a one-on-one. I don’t know if he would have reached the ball, but give the goalkeeper a chance to stop it, or even give them the goal. Being one man down so soon kills you in the game,” he commented
On Vitinha’s goal, the 1-2, he also demanded more from his teammates. “Another mistake. You have to go out and close him down. You can’t let him shoot. He was free. It’s nothing we haven’t trained for. The player closest to the ball has to jump to close it down. It was a three against three after the corner, Vitinha comes in… you have to go for him. No one did, and if they did, it was too late,” he added.
This defeat comes at the best moment of the season for Barca. “Form doesn’t count for much in this competition, you can come in with confidence, but crucial decisions punish you,” he concluded.
