Ilkay Gundogan points blame at two Barcelona team-mates on live TV after nightmare Champions League exit to PSG
ILKAY GUNDGODAN all but named, blamed and shamed two Barcelona team-mates on live TV after PSG’s shock Champions League triumph.
The Manchester City legend singled out Ronald Araujo‘s reckless red card as the turning point and appeared to criticise Robert Lewandowski for the visitors’ second goal in a 4-1 defeat.
Kylian Mbappe‘s double then sealed PSG‘s place in the semi-finals with a 6-4 triumph on aggregate.
Afterwards, Gundogan took the unusual step of publicly putting fellow Barca stars in the firing line.
The midfielder brutally dissected two costly moments as Barcelona‘s 3-2 lead from the first leg in Paris crumbled in Spain.
Raphinha‘s 12th-minute opener had put the LaLiga giants 4-2 up overall.
But a piece of double discomfort for Araujo left PSG scenting success.
First, the Uruguay centre-back’s poor pass let in Bradley Barcola.
Then as he tried to atone for his error, Araujo was ruled to have impeded Barcola as the Frenchman cut in towards goal.
The defender was given a straight red, although a few observers reckoned it was harsh to deem he had denied a clear scoring opportunity.
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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.”
Ex-Barca wideman Ousmane Dembele hit PSG’s leveller after 40 minutes.
Then came the Vitinha goal that put the visitors 2-1 up on the night and Lewandowski in the dock.
The Polish legend seemed to stroll out from a PSG short corner rather than close down the midfielder – who then fired home spectacularly from long range.
Lewandowski raised more question marks by merely lifting one leg and turning his back as the ball whistled past him and into the net for an aggregate leveller.
Gundogan didn’t mention anyone by name but said: “Again, it’s another mistake. We have to step out there.
“We can’t let him shoot because he was so free.
“It wasn’t anything we haven’t trained before. The closest player to the ball has to step out. We were three with three and Vitinha was the fourth man.
“Someone has to step out. No one did or they did it too late.
“It was a good shot and they got their second goal. But, it wasn’t necessary at all. It’s too late right now.”
A penalty and a late strike from Mbappe – who is expected to join Real Madrid next summer – then finished Barca off.
Gundogan, a 2023 Treble winner with Pep Guardiola‘s City, added: “I am disappointed. Very disappointed actually as we were in such a good position.”