Ilkay Gündogan expressed disappointment in individual errors as Barcelona was eliminated from the Champions League on Tuesday.
Ilkay Gundogan remarked that Barcelona handed the game to Paris Saint-Germain “in the simplest manner.”
Despite leading 3-2 from the first leg and taking a 12th-minute lead in the second leg, the game shifted when Ronald Araújo received a red card, with PSG eventually winning 4-1 on the night and advancing 6-4 on aggregate.
“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 criticized the referee’s decision, calling it a “disaster” that altered the game’s course.
Gündogan acknowledged that the red card influenced the match’s outcome but refrained from condemning 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, returning to face his former club, equalized for PSG, followed by Vitinha’s goal from the edge of the box and Kylian Mbappé’s penalty goal.
Mbappé sealed PSG’s victory with another goal in the 89th minute, securing their spot in the semifinals against Borussia Dortmund.
Barcelona Coach Xavi Hernandez called the referee a disaster.
“We are annoyed,” Xavi said. “The red card marked the tie. We were well organised 11 vs. 11. It completely changed everything. For me, it’s too much to send [Araújo] off there.
“The referee was really bad. I told him, he was a disaster. He killed the tie. I don’t like speaking about referees but it has to be said. I don’t understand it.
“It’s not good going down to 10 players and from that point on it’s another game. For as much as we speak [about the match], the red card marks everything.”
On his red card, Xavi took responsibility for been sent off.
“That was an error by me, it was my fault,” added Xavi, accepting responsibility for his expulsion.
Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique’s post match interview.
“I don’t speak about referees,” he said. “I have not seen it back, I just saw it live. In my time as a coach, I have never judged referees. I focus on what I can control.
“We started the game really well and the feeling when they score, after a brilliant piece of play from Lamine Yamal, is a bit like the first leg. We didn’t deserve to lose last week and we didn’t deserve to be behind tonight.
“But the faith and the belief from the players was exceptional. From there we grew into the game. Obviously the red card is a factor, but you still have to know how to play these games and not make mistakes.
“I honestly think without the red card, we still win, although I can’t prove that.”
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