Ilkay Gundogan questioned Ronald Araujo’s decision-making after Barcelona were eliminated from the quarter-finals of the Champions League on Tuesday night.
Araujo, 25, was shown a straight red card in the 29th minute of Barcelona’s 4-1 second-leg defeat to PSG for a professional foul on winger Bradley Barcola just outside his own box.
The Uruguay defender was subsequently dismissed by Romanian referee Istvan Kovacs, 17 minutes after Raphinha opened the scoring on the night to give Barca a 4-2 aggregate lead.
The moment proved a turning point in the tie, with PSG going on to score four unanswered goals — through Ousmane Dembele, Vitinha and a Kylian Mbappe brace — to prevail 6-4 on aggregate and book their place in the last four at Barca’s expense.
Asked for his reaction to the incident, Gundogan — who won the competition with Manchester City last season — said Araujo should have avoided making contact with Barcola.
“If he fouled him I guess it’s a red card. I haven’t seen the replay,” said Gundogan.
“But in these kind of crucial moments, you need to be sure to get the ball and if you can’t get it — again, I’m not sure if he got the ball or not — you have to stay away.
“I (would) prefer to concede the goal there or give the striker a one-on-one: give him the opportunity, let our goalkeeper save us or even concede a goal, because to be one man down with a red card so early in the game, it kills you.”
Barcelona manager Xavi was shown a red card in the second half for kicking out on the side of the pitch.
“We were in such a good position — not just after the first leg but also after the first goal we scored,” Gundogan added. “Everything was in our hands and we just gave it away.”
PSG will now play Borussia Dortmund — who overturned a 2-1 first-leg deficit to beat Atletico 5-4 on aggregate — for a place in the final at Wembley.
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