Many considered Barcelona’s exit from the Champions League quarter-finals as humiliating, especially because they had led 4-2 on aggregate against Paris Saint-Germain before the second leg. Ilkay Gundogan criticized his teammate, Ronald Araujo, for ‘killing’ Barcelona’s hopes by getting a red card that changed the course of the tie. He also took a thinly-veiled swipe at Robert Lewandowski for his lackluster defending during the match. Gundogan highlighted several mistakes made by the team that led to their downfall, including Araujo’s early dismissal and Lewandowski’s failure to stop a crucial shot from Vitinha that got PSG level on aggregate.
Following the match, Barcelona coach Xavi revealed what he told the referee after a furious altercation which resulted in him being shown a straight red card. The team was mercilessly mocked for a social media post made moments before Kylian Mbappe scored a crucial goal. The match saw a series of errors by Barcelona players, including Araujo’s sending off in the first half and Lewandowski’s lack of defensive effort which ultimately led to PSG’s victory. Despite having a two-goal cushion, Barcelona collapsed within minutes of the restart, allowing PSG to clinch their spot in the semi-finals with an 89th-minute goal by Mbappe.
In a post-match interview, Gundogan didn’t make any effort to sugarcoat his criticism of his team-mates, stating that they had thrown away their advantage in a ‘simple manner’ and handed over the game to PSG. He pointed out that Araujo should have avoided the red card situation and let the striker take a shot instead. He also suggested that Lewandowski’s lack of effort in blocking Vitinha’s shot was another key mistake that Barcelona should have avoided. Gundogan’s public criticism of his team-mates is not new, as he had previously expressed his surprise at their reaction after a defeat to Real Madrid. The upcoming El Clasico match will be crucial for Barcelona’s chances in the Spanish title race, and another loss could hand over the title to Madrid.
Barcelona’s performance in the quarter-finals was marred by defensive errors, especially Araujo’s red card and Lewandowski’s lack of defensive effort. Gundogan’s criticisms of his team-mates highlighted these crucial mistakes that cost Barcelona their lead and ultimately led to their humiliating exit from the Champions League. Xavi’s confrontation with the referee and the team’s social media blunder added to the chaos surrounding Barcelona’s defeat. With the upcoming El Clasico match and the Spanish title race at stake, Barcelona will need to regroup and address their defensive vulnerabilities to stay competitive in the league. It remains to be seen how the team will bounce back from this disappointing loss.
