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8 months ago
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Shortly following Barcelona’s defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, rumours erupted in Catalonia, with many pointing at Ilkay Gundogan for his scathing attack on the team’s performance.
Gundogan’s open criticism led many to believe that there is disharmony brewing inside the Barcelona dressing – something which caught the midfielder by surprise.
However, in a recent interview, Barcelona veteran Sergi Roberto confirmed there is no such discontent in the dressing room and that the team remains quite united.
“I read the dressing room was divided and that is not true. We are united and we are family” Roberto said (h/t Movistar Plus).
“I think there was more external noise than a problem inside the locker room. We are very united. In the end, what Gundogan did go some way was to explain what happened in the match, but without any intention of pointing it out to anyone,” he clarified.
This is exactly what Gundogan, too, had pointed out while his entourage maintained that the midfielder always speaks directly and openly to the media.
Sergi Roberto went on to back Ilkay Gundogan, praising the midfielder for everything he has brought to the table since joining the club.
“I think everyone wants to win. Everyone watched the match and since his arrival, all he has done in the dressing room is to add, to help the team be better, but nothing more. They should not look for problems where there are none. The team is very united,” he added.
Roberto backs Gundogan after his comments on PSG loss (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
The Spaniard further added that there is no need for an emergency meeting at Barcelona despite the club’s recent loss to PSG.
“There is no need for any meeting, in the end, we are together all day in the dressing room, things were discussed, of course, more than anything because of the noise that was there externally, to make it clear that there are no problems between anyone,” he said.
“We are a family, and in the end, the problem is that after being eliminated from the Champions League, there will always be noise, as there has always been, and even more so here in this club where there is always a lot of noise.
“But I am telling you that Gundogan did not do it with bad intentions, nor to point out to anyone, at all,” he added.
Roberto further added that Barcelona are ready for the upcoming game against Real Madrid on Sunday.
“There is no problem. I read that the team is divided inside the dressing room, not at all. We are very united, I tell you, ready on Sunday to fight as if it were a final,” he said.
Barcelona are indeed desperate for a win as they take on Los Blancos on Sunday. The club are trailing the Spanish giants by eight points, but a victory this weekend could plug that gap to just five, heading into the final phase of the campaign.
Roberto concluded by praising the way Barcelona have fought in Europe this season. He remains hopeful of beating Real Madrid this weekend.
“Although we could not win the Super Cup or the Copa del Rey, I think that in Europe away from home, we presented a very good image and I think this is also due to the unity of the team.
“I think we are very united and what happened now will not change anything. The team is very united and as I tell you, we are already ready to play the match on Sunday,” he concluded.
