‘We can’t drop, we have El Clasico’ – Kounde speaks following Barcelona blow vs PSG

Barcelona defender Jules Kounde has reflected after his side’s 1-4 defeat at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second-leg tie, saying that everybody expected a lot from this game.

Barcelona were knocked out of the continental championship last night despite taking an early lead through Raphinha. Ronald Araujo’s red card a minute before the half-hour mark, however, changed the course.

“This defeat is very painful. We had a great desire to reach the semi-finals. It was a great opportunity. It’s unfortunate to lose this way,” said the French defender after the match.

“We can’t drop. We have El Clasico coming up. We’ll need a day or two, some days to recover. We’ll travel to Madrid to win,” he added.

What now for Barcelona?
Barcelona had high hopes for a strong finish this season, but those hopes took a severe blow after their crushing defeat against PSG.

The loss, coupled with the team’s collapse on the European stage once again, will be hard to shake off for both players and the management.

There were talks that Barcelona might retain Xavi if they performed well in Europe and La Liga, but those discussions will likely fade now.

Questions will arise about Xavi’s decision-making, particularly his choice to substitute Lamine Yamal after Araujo’s red card, adding to concerns about his coaching abilities following another disappointing result.

Nevertheless, Barcelona and Xavi must regroup swiftly and focus on their upcoming match against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu in La Liga.

Although the title race is not completely over, Barcelona’s season will effectively be finished if they leave the Spanish capital without points on Sunday, with only six games remaining.

For now, their only hope for a title lies in La Liga and if they falter, something that is likely, Xavi’s departure is all but certain.