Ilkay Gündogan expressed frustration over individual errors as Barcelona exited the Champions League on Tuesday, admitting that the Spanish side handed the victory to Paris Saint-Germain “in the simplest way possible.”
Barcelona, leading 3-2 from the first leg in Paris, initially took a commanding 2-0 lead in the tie with Raphinha’s 12th-minute goal at the Olympic Stadium.
However, the momentum shifted drastically after Ronald Araújo received a red card for a last-man challenge on Bradley Barcola, leading to PSG’s 4-1 victory on the night and a 6-4 aggregate win, securing their spot in the semifinals against Borussia Dortmund.
“I am very disappointed because we were in such a good position, not just after the first leg, but scoring the first goal as well,” Gündogan told CBS. “Everything was in our hands and we just gave it away in the most simple manner. We just gave it to PSG and that is the most disappointing part.”
Barça coach Xavi Hernández was fuming with the decision to show a red card to Araujo, labelling the performance of the referee a “disaster” and saying it completely changed the game.
Gündogan said the decision did condition the outcome of the match but did not criticise the on-pitch ruling.
“If he fouled him, I guess it’s a red card,” the Germany international added. “I haven’t seen the replay. It’s difficult to say, in these crucial moments, you need to be sure to get the ball.
“If you don’t get it, and I don’t know if he did, you have to stay away. I prefer to concede a goal there or to leave the striker one on one, even though he played the ball quite far ahead, so I don’t know if he would reach the ball. But let the goalkeeper have a chance to save us or even concede a goal.
“To get a red card, to go a player down so early, it just kills the game.”
Ousmane Dembélé made a successful return to Barcelona, where he previously played, by scoring the equaliser. He rejoined PSG for €50 million ($53m) last summer. Following his goal, Vitinha capitalised on a defensive lapse, scoring from the edge of the box after being left unmarked at a corner, which gave the French champions the lead.
“Again, [another] mistake,” Gündogan added. “We have to step out there and don’t let him shoot. He was so free.
“It’s nothing we haven’t trained, the closest man has to step out. Someone has to step out. No one did — or did too late. Again, not necessary at all.”
Kylian Mbappé added PSG’s third goal from the penalty spot and then sealed Luis Enrique’s side’s passage to the final four in the 89th minute after Gündoğan had hit the post and had a penalty appeal turned down.
“Decisive actions, crucial situations, they will either reward you or punish you,” Gündogan said. “Unfortunately for tonight they punished us.”