Barcelona (Reuters)
Barcelona midfielder Ilkay Gundogan said that his team bears sole responsibility, after wasting its lead to lose to Paris Saint-Germain and exit the Champions League.
After winning 3-2 in Paris, and taking a 1-0 lead with an early goal from Rafinha in the second leg of the quarter-finals, Barcelona played with ten players when Ronald Araujo received the red card, before Paris Saint-Germain took control of the match, rose up and came back in the score.
Gundogan told TNT Sports: “I feel very disappointed and frustrated. We were completely in control of the match and were ahead by a goal, before we destroyed ourselves. Yes, the red card changed the course of the match. This is the Champions League, regardless of the opponent, in such a situation.” These important confrontations, with playing with ten players early on, become impossible and the competition is unfortunately bid farewell.
After the defeat, Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez “reprimanded” referee Istvan Kovac, and said that his performance had cost the Spanish club the loss of its place in the semi-finals.
Kovac showed red cards to Araujo and Xavi, and five Barcelona players received yellow cards.
Gundogan agreed with his coach’s opinion regarding the referee, saying: He should have received a penalty kick, after an intervention by Paris Saint-Germain player Vitinha inside the area.
The German player said: “I have not seen most of the exciting moments in the replay yet, but I felt that he was very quick to show the yellow cards.”
He added: “In the second half, I think I should have gotten a penalty kick. It seemed clear that he was kicking me, and if that had not been the case, I would have continued running. It was a penalty kick for me. That’s what I told him, at least, so he could review it.” “The violation occurred, and he gave me a yellow card. I do not know how the violation appeared on television. Maybe I am wrong.”
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