On Wednesday, the day after the defeat against PSG in Montjuïc that meant Barça's goodbye in the Champions League, the squad went to the sports city. The starters completed a smooth recovery session. All except Ronald Araújo, who, when he was sent off in the 29th minute of the game, trained with the substitutes. He did not agree, therefore, with Ilkay Gündogan, who sowed some controversy in the locker room with some statements that did not sit well with some teammates. “I am disappointed, very disappointed. It was in our hands and we have given it to PSG. It is impossible to come back if one of your players is sent off. We felt like we had control of the game before the red card. If it is a foul, it is a red card. I haven't seen the replay. It's hard to say, but in these crucial moments you have to be sure you can win the ball back. If you don't get the ball, and I don't know if he touches it or not, you have to let it go. Putting yourself with one less man for the red card so early in the game kills you,” summarized Gündogan, accustomed to expressing his football opinions clearly and directly as German culture dictates.
The message fell differently in the locker room. Some see in his words a footballer arguing a football story. Others detect that he pointed the finger at Ronald Araújo, one of his captains, putting him under an accusatory spotlight that is difficult for the player to digest. This was expressed by players like Koundé, who beyond regretting the defeat, pointed out Gündogan on his social networks with “by the way, we win as a team and we also lose as a team, always.” Sergi Roberto spoke along the same lines: “Now more united than ever, here we all win and lose together,” said the Barça captain. Seeing the commotion, Xavi wanted to talk to the two players to bury the controversy.
The situation was difficult for the Blaugrana centre-back, a hot-blooded footballer who feels and lives Barcelona with great intensity. The same one he has played with since he arrived at the club seven years ago to land in the reserve team. Four years later, and already with a first team record, Araújo is going through a difficult week.
After training, he ate with captain Sergi Roberto and other players. Yesterday, at the presentation of the 19th edition of Solidarity Stories of Sport, which this year he sponsors along with fellow Uruguayan Cristhian Stuani, Girona forward, he expressed his feelings. “I am sad like everyone about the elimination. The play? It's fortuitous, it's 50 percent. If he collects it, he has to expel me, if he doesn't collect it, nothing happens. I don't feel responsible, but staying with ten is something important. But there is also a lot in the context itself. I am grateful to the culés. I was excited to hear people say 'Uruguayan, Uruguayan' when they expelled me. I appreciate it so much. This generation will win the Champions League. There will be revenge, we will try again,” he promised.
And about Gündogan? His opinion was as brief as it was clear, aware that the question would fall: “I prefer to keep what I think to myself. I have codes and values that I must respect”, he said very seriously. Although they talked, the peace did not seem to have been signed.
It is not the first time that Gündogan generates perplexity. After the classic of the first round in Montjuïc, in which Barça lost 1-2 against Real Madrid, the German regretted that his teammates were complacent and did not show more pain. “I would like to see more anger, more disappointment. This is part of the problem. You have to express more emotions when you lose and when you know you can play better.” he pointed out. After the commotion created, upon returning to training during the week he asked to speak in a talk by Xavi and explained himself. The matter did not go any further.
The coaching staff considers that it is a misunderstanding between two people from different cultures who have clashed. They are also convinced that the matter will not escalate. Especially since the next stop, this Sunday, takes Barça to the Bernabéu classic against a grown Real Madrid that has just eliminated Manchester City in the quarterfinals of the Champions League and leads the League with an eight-point lead. “We still have a mathematical chance of winning the League. We will fight it until the end. We are going to try to cut points from the Bernabéu,” said Araújo.
At the same time, the sports team led by Deco is working on a proposal to renew it until 2029, which began to take shape a month ago. “My renovation is going well. Some conversations have started and when the course ends they will sit down to talk. There is always talk of possible offers. Every year it will be like this, but I am very happy in Barcelona, I always show it. "Sometimes it works out well, other times it doesn't, but I want to help Barça grow," responded the Uruguayan, who has already aroused the interest of clubs like Bayern. It is not the first time that he has made his intentions clear. He was already able to leave Barça in 2022, before his last renewal until 2026. He had three Premier League proposals on the table and, especially, a very important salary at Manchester United. Even so, the Uruguayan defender gave express orders to his agents not to listen to offers. His dream is to continue.
