Barcelona midfielder Ilkay Gundogan says he expected “more anger” from his Barcelona team-mates in the dressing room after their 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid in Saturday’s Clasico.
The Germany international, who arrived from Manchester City this summer, put Barcelona in front at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium, only for Jude Bellingham’s double to seal victory for Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
Gundogan delivered a candid verdict after the game, saying he wanted to see “more emotion” and “resistance” to defeat — especially to the club’s arch rivals.
Speaking after a result that leaves Barcelona four points behind Real, Gundogan said: “I don’t want to say something wrong, to be honest, but I was now in the dressing room, and of course people are disappointed, but especially after such a big game and such a result, I wish (for) more frustration, more anger and more disappointment.
“This is a little bit the problem. I don’t know, there has to be more emotion, especially when you lose and you know you can perform better in certain situations, and you just don’t react and it transfers to the pitch.
“We need to make a huge step otherwise Real Madrid or even Girona is going to run away and I didn’t come here to lose this type of game and let the gap create.
“There’s also a responsibility from myself, a more experienced player, to not allow the squad to just let things happen. No, we need resistance.”
Bellingham scored a long-range equaliser and then a dramatic winner in added time as Real completed the comeback, with the England international taking his tally to 13 goals in as many games.
Jude Bellingham was the matchwinner again for Real Madrid (Getty Images)
The 20-year-old said: “I had watched many Clasicos from the sofa with my family and I told them that today it was my turn to live it first-hand and do something great. I’ve done that and I’m very happy.
“I wasn’t at my best. Sometimes it’s not about trying to do something special every time you have the ball, but to combine with those up top.
“I fulfilled that task well but as soon as I got the ball there I knew I was going to score. I got the ball on the edge of the box. I’ve been saying for a few weeks that I need to try from outside.
“Maybe the opponents expect me to try to get into the box or combine with a team-mate and I wanted to surprise them by hitting it from outside the box. I know I have the technique and it went into the top corner.”
Ancelotti said of Bellingham’s continued impact: “We’re all surprised at the level he’s at, especially in terms of how effective he’s been. He could easily score 20 or 25 goals.
“He looks like a veteran. His attitude is very good. He’s the player who has made the biggest difference.”
GO DEEPER
Barcelona 1-2 Real Madrid: Bellingham is the big Clasico hero (it had to be him)
(Photo: Getty Images)
