Paris Saint-Germain head coach, Luis Enrique, has said Ronald Araújo red card was instrumental to their win over Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-final second leg tie on Tuesday night.
Erinque, while speaking his post-match interview disclosed that the red card Ronald Araújo received during the encounter made things difficult for Barcelona and better for PSG.
He said his side started in an unbelievable rhythm, taking control of the ball against the host as goals. Raphinha scored put Barcelona in the front but goals from Ousmane Dembele, Vitinha and Kylian Mbappe gave the visitors a 4-1victory.
PGG secured their spot in the semi-final stage on a 6-4 aggregate win, having lost 3-2 in the first leg.
“I was very proud. You have to hope for the day that changes everything and it was today. We are very happy.
“We started in an unbelievable rhythm, taking control of the ball. The first time they go to our box, they score. For me it was very unfair but we didn’t change the way we play.
“The (red) of Araujo, I didn’t see but it was (then) more difficult for Barca and better for us.”
Barça started the game with an impressive performance and took the lead early on, but a controversial Ronald Araujo’s red card after 30 minutes completely changed the game and the tie and a 10-man Barça side tried all they could at least to earn a draw but couldn’t hold off the visitors as PSG got the goals needed to complete the comeback and progressed to the semi-finals.
Meanwhile the Barcelona boss, Xavi Hernandez, who was sent off for dissent shortly before the third goal, has blamed their loss on referee Istvan Kovacs, saying, “It’s a pity, our Champions League is over due to the referee’s mistake.
“I just told the referee that he’s been a disaster. It’s the reality.”
Raphinha’s brace inspired Xavi’s team to a 3-2 victory in last week’s quarterfinal first leg at the Parc des Princes in Paris and the Brazil winger was at it again, diverting the ball home from close range after fabulous work from teenage winger Lamine Yamal.
