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Barcelona defender Ronald Araújo has declined to respond to teammate Ilkay Gündogan‘s criticism of his sending off against Paris Saint-Germain.
Gündogan was frustrated with Araújo’s 29th minute red card in Barça’s 4-1 loss to PSG in Wednesday’s Champions League quarterfinal return leg, saying it led to his team’s demise.
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The veteran midfielder said of Araújo’s last-man challenge on Bradley Barcola: “To get a red card, to go a player down so early, it just kills the game. We just gave it away in the most simple manner. Let the goalkeeper have a chance to save us or even concede a goal.”
Speaking at a charity event in Barcelona on Thursday, Araújo responded: “I prefer to keep to myself what I think about Gündogan’s comments. I have certain values and they have to be respected.”
Barcelona players Jules Koundé and Sergi Roberto showed solidarity with Araújo.
“Now more united than ever, here we win and lose together!” Sergi Roberto wrote on Instagram, while Kounde said: “By the way, we win as a team and we also lose as a team.”
Gundongan’s wife, Sara Arfaoui, weighed in on her husband’s criticism of Araujo.
She posted a photograph of her husband lifting the Champions League with City and wrote in an Instagram post that was later deleted: “This man is a working hard man and his football opinions is about improving and he is giving everything to this team. His mentality is a treble mentality.”
PSG advanced 6-4 on aggregate to set up a semifinal against Borussia Dortmund.
Barça’s elimination from the Champions League is a double blow for the club, as they also missed out on a place at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.