Araujo Should’ve Just Let Brarcola Through – Gundogan

Barcelona midfielder, Ilkay Gundogan has come out to criticize his team-mates after Xavi’s side let slip a two-goal lead against PSG in the Champions League. He recently had his say while speaking to the press, and fans have been reacting.

According to him, he would prefer Araujo stayed away from the PSG player in that position, instead of risking a red card, because sometimes, it is better to even concede a goal than go one man down.

Gundogan added that he is so disappointed with the result because it was all in Barcelona‘s hands.

His words, “I am disappointed. 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.”

On Araujo’s red, “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.”

On the 2nd conceded goal, “Again, it’s another mistake. We have to step out there,” he said. “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.”

WOW.

Futbol Club Barcelona, commonly referred to as Barcelona and colloquially known as Barça, is a professional football club based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, that competes in La Liga, the top flight of Spanish football.

Founded in 1899 by a group of Swiss, Catalan, German, and English footballers led by Joan Gamper, the club has become a symbol of Catalan culture and Catalanism, hence the motto “Més que un club” (“More than a club”). Unlike many other football clubs, the supporters own and operate Barcelona.

There is often a fierce rivalry between the two strongest teams in a national league, and this is particularly the case in La Liga, where the game between Barcelona and Real Madrid is known as “The Classic” (El Clásico).

From the start of national competitions the clubs were seen as representatives of two rival regions in Spain: Catalonia and Castile, as well as of the two cities. The rivalry reflects what many regard as the political and cultural tensions felt between Catalans and the Castilians, seen by one author as a re-enactment of the Spanish Civil War. Over the years, the head-to-head record between the two clubs is 102 victories for Madrid, 100 victories for Barcelona, and 52 draws.