Barça practically said goodbye to the League with a cruel defeat against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu. A goal from Bellingham in injury time ended up breaking down the resistance of a Blaugrana team that was a victim of its own mistakes and the decisions of the classic referee, César Soto Grado.
"I'm at a loss for words. That they don't find a good angle, that there isn't the technology, is a shame for football. Other leagues have it. This world moves a lot of money and there is no money for what's important," lamented Marc André Ter Stegen. unacknowledged ghost goal by Lamine Yamal in the first half, a play in which the whites' goalkeeper, Lunin, seems to take the ball out of the goal.
The German goalkeeper wanted to point out "the influence" of the referees' decisions, including the controversial penalty called on Lucas Vázquez, but above all he wanted to influence the poor performance of the Blaugrana. "I'm just saying that we have to look at ourselves. We had everything in our favor and we couldn't get the three points," he explained about a Barça team that was twice ahead on the scoreboard.
"We are disappointed with ourselves. You can talk about the referee but we have failed in key moments. It is our fault. Apart from the referees, we have not had patience in their field with the score in favor. We have had no control. And they are capable of finding a solution," added Ter Stegen, who especially focused on the defensive errors.
"We have allowed clear chances. It can't happen to us. We haven't defended up to par," he said, in addition to acknowledging that the defeat "has been a hard blow in terms of competing in the League," with Madrid already at 11 points when only 18 points remain at stake.
Barça's week could not have been worse, eliminated from the Champions League at the hands of PSG and with the League practically lost with six games left. "It is difficult to find words for that, it is the accumulation of many things. Today we have not been at the level of competitiveness, and this lately takes away points from us," concluded Ter Stegen about the team's possible lack of attitude in decisive moments.
Ronald Araújo expressed himself along the same lines, not wanting to use the possible goal not awarded to Lamine Yamal as an "excuse". "Maybe the refereeing was a condition. It seemed like it had entered. We have to adjust the technology. But we have failed. Not just the game, in the entire season," said the Uruguayan, who also regretted LaLiga's lack of investment in the Hawkeye .
"It is one of the best leagues in the world and these actions can decide games," said an Araújo who is "sad" but "strong in the head." "I came to this club because of my mental strength. You can't blame me for anything on the field," he explained before confirming that he settled his differences with Ilkay Gündogan, who publicly criticized his expulsion against PSG. "We talked about it, he asked me for forgiveness," he said.
Araújo wanted to emphasize that the team is a "young group" with a lot of projection and a path ahead, but also recognized that the "objective is to finish second" in the League to secure a ticket to the next Super Cup, a title already practically impossible. league that Real Madrid has in its hands.
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