Title: Ilkay Gündogan Calls for More Emotion and Anger from Barcelona After Clásico Defeat
Date: October 29, 2023
Ilkay Gündogan, Barcelona’s midfielder, has emphasized the need for more emotion and anger from his teammates following their 2-1 defeat to arch-rivals Real Madrid in the Clásico. Despite taking the lead in the first half through Gündogan’s goal, Barcelona succumbed to a late brace by Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham, including a 92nd-minute winner.
Speaking to LaLiga TV after the match, Gündogan expressed his disappointment with Barcelona’s reaction to the loss, noting that there was a lack of frustration and anger among the players. He stated, “Especially after such a big game and a result that is so unnecessary, I wish for more frustration, more anger, and more disappointment. This is a little bit the problem.”
Gündogan, who joined Barcelona from Manchester City in the summer, stressed the importance of displaying stronger emotions when faced with defeat. He highlighted that their reactions off the pitch would ultimately transfer to their performance on the field. To remain competitive in the title race, Gündogan believes Barcelona must make a significant improvement in this aspect of their game.
The 33-year-old midfielder acknowledged his own responsibility as an experienced player in helping the team overcome the loss. He said, “There is also a responsibility for myself, as a more experienced player, to not allow the squad to just let things happen. No, we need resistance.”
Barcelona’s defeat to Real Madrid in the Clásico marked their first loss in all competitions this season. However, draws against Getafe, Mallorca, and Granada had already seen them slip to third place in the LaLiga table behind Real Madrid and Girona.
Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández also expressed his disappointment with the result, claiming that it was an unfair reflection of the game. He believed that Barcelona had performed well for the majority of the match but conceded that Madrid’s ability to convert their chances ultimately made the difference.
Real Madrid’s victory in the Clásico has put them level on points with Girona at the top of LaLiga, creating a four-point gap between them and Barcelona.
As Barcelona looks to bounce back, Gündogan’s call for more emotion and anger serves as a reminder that complacency cannot be entertained if they wish to compete at the highest level. The team’s response to this defeat will be crucial in their pursuit of success this season.