Barcelona midfielder Ilkay Gundogan gave another candid post-match interview following his team's gut-wrenching UEFA Champions League exit, with the experienced German taking aim at one teammate following the 4-1 loss.
That player was Ronald Araujo, the highly-rated center-back whose first-half sending-off sparked the Catalan giants' horrible collapse.
Barcelona began the game well, breaking the deadlock after only 12 minutes to go 4-2 up on aggregate. However, the Uruguayan defender was shown a straight red card in the 29th minute after bringing down Bradley Barcola, who was through on the Blaugrana's goal.
Xavi's men struggled to get a grip on the game from then on, with PSG eventually turning things around. Ousmane Dembele equalized shortly before half-time before Vitinha gave the visitors the lead in the 54th minute. Kylian Mbappe stepped up from then onwards, scoring a brace, with the first coming courtesy of a penalty that Joao Cancelo cheapishly conceded.
Speaking after the final whistle, Gundogan bemoaned his side's performance and accused his team of digging their own grave. The German midfielder refused to be drawn into a debate over the referee's performance but he did touch upon Araujo's sending-off, arguing that his teammate should have done everything possible to avoid the red card.
"I am disappointed," Ilkay told CBS Sports after the final whistle. "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. We just gave it to Paris Saint-Germain and that's the most disappointing part."
"Everything was in our hands and we just gave it away."
— CBS Sports Golazo (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 16, 2024
İlkay Gündoğan spoke with @GuillemBalague to discuss what went wrong for Barcelona pic.twitter.com/GIs5uoI1O1
On the issue of Araujo's red card and whether the referee was right to give the defender his marching order, Gundogan said: "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, 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."
Barcelona went on to lose 4-1 on the day (6-4 on aggregate) and are set to finish the season trophyless as a result. This is in stark contrast to last season when Ilkay Gundogan captained Manchester City to the treble.
The midfielder has not shied away from criticizing his own teammates before. The 33-year-old did just that following the 2-1 loss at home to Real Madrid in October's El Clasico, accusing his dressing room of lacking emotion in the face of defeat.
Barcelona can somewhat make amends for this defeat come Sunday as Xavi's men travel to Santiago Bernabeu in the latest chapter of El Clasico. A win over Real Madrid will not change much in the Spanish top-flight title race but it will salvage some pride in what has been a frustrating season for the Catalan giants.
