Ilkay Gundogan criticized his teammate Ronald Araujo for an error he believes was decisive in Barcelona’s Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.
Holding a 3-2 lead from the first leg in Paris, Barcelona seemed in command after Raphinha’s early goal at Camp Nou on Tuesday.
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However, Barcelona’s strategy unraveled when Araujo received a direct red card 29 minutes in for pulling back Bardley Bacola just outside the penalty area, a move judged as preventing a clear scoring chance.
PSG claimed a 4-1 victory that evening, winning 6-4 overall, with Kylian Mbappe sealing the win with two goals after the break.
Araujo contested the sending-off, claiming his teammate Pau Cubrasi was in a covering position. Despite this, a VAR review upheld the initial decision, with Gundogan openly questioning Araujo’s judgment during such a pivotal moment of the match.
“It’s hard to say… But in these crucial moments you have to be sure if you go for the ball,’ the former Manchester City star said.
‘I don’t know if he touches the ball or not. I prefer to concede a goal or even allow a one on one.
‘I don’t know if he got to the ball or not, but give the goalkeeper the opportunity to. stop it, or even give them the goal.
‘Being one less so soon kills you in the game.’
Barcelona’s head coach, Xavi, who also received a red card during the second half, was incensed with referee Istvan Kovacs’s decision and argued that Araujo’s dismissal was the turning point that ‘killed the game’.
‘We are disgruntled and angry because I think that the decision decides the tie,’ said Xavi, who will step down as Barcelona manager at the end of the season.
‘Eleven against eleven we were well organised. The decision makes the tie completely. For me it is too much to give a red for this play and from then on it is a different game.
‘I told the referee that he was very bad, that he was a disaster and does not understand football. It killed the tie. It changes everything. I don’t like to talk about the referees but we have to say it, we can’t stay silent.’
