Ilkay Gundogan points finger at Ronald Araujo, Joao Cancelo & Robert Lewandowski

Barcelona veteran Ilkay Gundogan held little back after they were eliminated from the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain, but the German midfielder explained that he felt the Catalans were the architects of our own downfall. He described himself as ‘disappointed’ after ‘we destroyed ourselves’.

Regarding that destruction, Gundogan put it down to poor mistakes from his teammates, and while he did not use names, he did call out his teammates. Gundogan explained that Ronald Araujo had to allow Bradley Barcola through on goal rather than risk a red card ‘in a crucial moment’, and was part of their ‘giving it away in a simple manner’.

Regarding Vitinha’s goal, Gundogan said ‘again a mistake’, as they did not close down the Portuguese midfielder for his strike. “It’s nothing we don’t train. Someone has to step out. It’s disappointing.” It was fellow veteran Robert Lewandowski who was closest to closing him down. Meanwhile Joao Cancelo was responsible for another ‘mistake at crucil moments’, as he gave away a penalty in a situation of minimal danger, which “in the Champions League, they punish you for.”

Gundogan did feel that he was unfortunate not to get a penalty of his own, confirming that he was clipped by Vitinha in the box, and explaining he could not understand why he was booked for asking referee Istvan Kovacs to look at the play again.

Frenkie de Jong commented after the match to Movistar+, as carried by MD, that he felt perhaps Barcola’s touch was taking the ball too close to Marc-Andre ter Stegen for Araujo to be sent off. The German goalkeeper was clear that while he did not want to call it a ‘mistake’, it was definitely a foul that could be given.

After El Clasico in the first half of the season, Gundogan also spoke to the media with brutal honesty about the attitude of his teammates, which he did not feel was up to standard. The 33-year-old was again critical of his teammates just days ahead of another clash with Real Madrid, as manager Xavi Hernandez pointed to the referee as the architect of Barcelona’s issues.