Barcelona star hits back at Ilkay Gundogan over Champions League exit blame

Ronald Araujo offered a disgruntled response to Ilkay Gundogan's decision to call him out for his red card in Barcelona's 4-1 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.

Barcelona had a two-goal lead on aggregate when Araujo earned himself an early red card, after which PSG quickly ran away with proceedings. Gundogan did not mince his words after the game as he publicly questioned Araujo's thinking — accusing the Uruguay international of «killing» the tie for the Catalan giants.

Gundogan's brutal words caught many by surprise and Araujo appeared frustrated when given the chance to respond on Thursday.

«I prefer to keep what I think to myself,» Araujo told the media. «I have codes and values ​​that must be respected.»

Asked whether he felt Gundogan had gone against his codes and values, Araujo bluntly added: «I have already answered that question.»

«I don't feel responsible,» Araujo said of Barcelona's defeat. «It conditions the game, especially when your team is left with ten. But there are many things in the context of the game besides that expulsion.

»I am really grateful to the fans who shouted my name when they sent me off. The fans has always really supported me."

Before Araujo was given the chance to respond, Barcelona teammates Jules Kounde and Sergi Roberto issued messages which have been interpreted as criticism of Gundogan's comments.

«We win as a team and we also lose as a team, always,» Kounde wrote, before Roberto added: «Now more united than ever, here we all win and lose together.»

This is not the first time this season that Gundogan has found himself in hot water over his interviews. After losing to rivals Real Madrid in El Clasico earlier this season, the veteran midfielder called out the dressing room's response to losing