Featured Image Credit: X/CBS Sports/Getty
Topics: Ilkay Gundogan, Football, Barcelona
Nasir Jabbar
Ronald Araujo has responded to Ilkay Gundogan seemingly criticising his performance against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.
Barcelona crashed out of the Champions League following their 6-4 aggregate defeat to PSG on Tuesday.
The Catalan giants were knocked out of TWO competitions following their stunning exit.
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After the game, Gundogan held nothing back as he slammed his side's showing.
On Araujo's challenge on Bradley Barcola, the German midfielder said: "I don't even know if he was able to reach the ball.
"But give him the opportunity, let our goalkeeper maybe save us, or even concede a goal because to go down one man and get a red card so early, it just kills the game."
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Gundogan's wife jumped to her husband's defence as she took to social media to share a supportive message.
Araujo himself has now responded to the criticism he's received following his dismissal.
On X, he wrote: "The football that gave me so much joy, now hits me hard. I thank all those who are unconditionally by my side, my teammates who left everything on the field, and the fans who believed in this team until the end.
"I am very sorry not to give you this joy. We will try again. Forca Barca, forever! God in control."
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Barca were one-nil up and led by three goals on aggregate at the time of Araujo's red card.
PSG then levelled on the night through Ousmane Dembele, before second-half goals from Vitinha and a brace from Kylian Mbappe ensured their passage to the next round of the competition.
Having won the treble with Manchester City last season, Gundogan is on course to go the campaign without a major trophy as his side trail Real Madrid by eight points in the league.
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And, of course, they are no longer in Europe.
Barca return to action on Saturday in an El Clasico meeting against Real.