FC Barcelona are a few days removed from their UEFA Champions League elimination at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain. The capital club defeated the Catalan side 4-1 in the second and 6-4 on aggregate.
Even though the Spanish side held a 4-2 aggregate lead at one point, the team’s momentum sank when Ronald Araújo was sent off following a foul on Bradley Barcola.
Afterward, the Parisians scored four unanswered goals, which allowed PSG to turn the situation around and advance. İlkay Gündoğan spoke to Barcelona’s official accounts and noted how he believes that the team can use this painful elimination as a learning lesson for next season.
“It is important to know that a match like PSG’s can happen,” Gündoğan said. “The disappointment and frustration of the PSG match, we can use it as motivation to do better next year.”
Gündogan: "It is important to know that a match like PSG's can happen. The disappointment and frustration of the PSG match, we can use it as motivation to do better next year." pic.twitter.com/5EyDgsnKa0
— Barça Universal (@BarcaUniversal) April 19, 2024
The loss to PSG was a financial blow, but it now seems the capital club moving past the La Liga team has caused some friction within the locker room. It will be interesting to see if this spirals out of control or if Xavi Hernandez can put this entire situation behind the group.