Barcelona midfielder Ilkay Gundogan has expressed his disapproval of his teammates for not displaying “more disappointment and frustration” following their loss to Real Madrid in El Clasico over the weekend. While Gundogan put Xavi’s team in the lead early in the La Liga match, Jude Bellingham’s two goals in the second half secured the victory for Los Blancos.
This defeat marked Barcelona’s first of the season, but they have now dropped points in four of their 11 La Liga matches, leaving them four points behind Real Madrid in the league standings. Gundogan admitted there was “disappointment” in the dressing room after the defeat to Carlo Ancelotti’s side, but he believed there should have been a stronger emotional reaction.
Gundogan told La Liga TV, “I don’t want to say anything inappropriate, but I was in the dressing room, and while there was disappointment, honestly, I would have preferred to see more frustration and anger. There should be stronger emotions. I didn’t come here to lose these kinds of matches. I also bear the responsibility to ensure the squad doesn’t let things slide. We need to show more resilience.”
Regarding the quality of Barcelona’s performance, Gundogan emphasized that it holds little value if they cannot secure a positive outcome. He added, “Playing well is meaningless if you don’t win.”
Mundo Deportivo reported that Barcelona’s coaching staff appreciated Gundogan’s remarks, as they resonated with the sentiment behind his reaction. The 33-year-old midfielder joined Barcelona from Manchester City over the summer after his contract with the treble winners expired. He signed a two-year deal with the option of a third year at Camp Nou.
Gundogan has been a crucial contributor for Barcelona in the 2023-24 season, featuring in 14 matches across all competitions and contributing with one goal and four assists.
Barcelona’s head coach, Xavi, acknowledged that his team “lacked effectiveness” in the El Clasico match, despite their strong performance in the first half.
The Catalan club will have an opportunity to bounce back from the disappointing result when they face Real Sociedad in La Liga next weekend. Following that, they will take on Shakhtar Donetsk and Alaves before the November international break.