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After renewing his contract till 2031, Ronald Araujo is targeted on making historical past with Barcelona.
Talking in an interview with SPORT, the Uruguayan centre-back claimed he feels joyful on the membership and believes {that a} profitable new period is about to start.
Barça are competing on all fronts, main La Liga, reaching the Copa del Rey semi-finals, and progressing to the Champions League knockout rounds.
“The staff is having an amazing season, and the outcomes present it. We already gained the Supercopa, which was vital for our younger squad. We’re joyful, and the followers are excited as a result of they’ll see the work we’re placing in,” mentioned Araujo.
With Hansi Flick’s arrival, Barça had been initially seen as an underdog, however now the staff is a contender for each title. However Araujo is aware of that dealing with strain can be key, as he mentioned:
“It was regular that originally, there was some doubt. Final 12 months wasn’t how we needed it to be, and we play for a membership that calls for successful, that calls for trophies. In the event you don’t win them, it’s thought-about a foul season.
“There have been excessive expectations with Hansi’s arrival as a result of, in actuality, the squad didn’t change a lot from final 12 months, however I feel you’ll be able to see what he desires and what he has carried out. The staff has a brand new identification… it’s a mixture of every thing.
“The way in which of working on the membership has modified, not simply with the coach. We’re in place, however there’s nonetheless a protracted method to go, and we’ve to maintain going.”
When requested if he would join a Champions League ultimate towards Actual Madrid, his response was quick:
“In fact! So long as we’re there, that’s all that issues. It might be an amazing match. We simply should do our half. The Champions League may be very aggressive, and at this stage, there aren’t any straightforward groups.
“It’s two video games, and it depends upon the way you method them… there are a lot of elements. We imagine we are able to do it, and hopefully, we are able to attain the ultimate. It might be unimaginable, however we’ve to take it sport by sport.”
January switch drama
Araújo’s future was a serious subject in January, with switch rumours swirling. A transfer to Juventus was believed to be shut. Nevertheless, he insists he was by no means unsure about his choice.
“I used to be calm as a result of I knew what I needed – to remain. There have been negotiations over contract particulars with the membership, however that’s regular. You come again after being out for six months, and issues should be mentioned,” he mentioned.
“However I used to be at all times very clear about it. And you would see it in how I performed within the Supercopa ultimate.”
Araujo by no means considered leaving regardless of rumours. (Photograph by Alex Caparros/Getty Photographs)
When requested if he ever doubted his choice, he was agency, saying: “No, no. Doubt? No. Like I mentioned, we had been negotiating, and there have been elements that didn’t depend upon me.”
Deco not too long ago acknowledged that he believes Araujo will keep long-term, and the defender agrees:
“If it’s as much as me, I’ll keep. I’m joyful in Barcelona, and I imagine nice years are forward. I skilled Barça’s powerful financial instances, and now I wish to benefit from the good moments. I’ve invested on this membership when issues had been troublesome, I stayed.
“I had many alternatives to depart, however I believed on this, I needed to remain. I believed we had been going to show issues round and transfer ahead. And now’s the time to take pleasure in.
“I really feel vital right here, my household is joyful in Barcelona, and I hope to fulfil my total contract. That’s why I signed a protracted deal.”
When requested about his decrease launch clause, he dismissed considerations, stating: “I’m actually joyful, truthfully. I really feel that nice issues are coming, and persons are going to take pleasure in it. And I really feel like stage of my profession is coming, I’m satisfied of it.”
If somebody had informed 15-year-old Araujo that he would at some point put on the captain’s armband for Barça, he admits he wouldn’t have believed it.
“I by no means imagined this. Soccer has flown by, regardless that I’ve at all times performed. At 17, I used to be nonetheless at residence, in my city, with my household, enjoying for Huracán. There was at all times the dream of enjoying for Barça, but it surely felt like a distant dream.
“Then alternatives come, and in the present day, being one of many captains of this membership, with the accountability that comes with it, I really feel lots of pleasure.”
Even at 25, he looks like a veteran in a youthful squad, as he mentioned: “Sure, sure, I really feel it (laughs). There are such a lot of younger gamers, they usually spend all day on TikTok, watching movies, joking round.
“However that brings pleasure to the locker room, and they’re younger however aggressive. They go ahead and don’t again down. The younger gamers hear when it’s a must to be severe, and that’s nice too.”
Hansi Flick: The chief of the brand new Barça
The driving pressure. (Photograph by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Photographs)
Araujo acknowledged that Flick is the driving pressure behind the staff’s resurgence this season, saying:
“I’d say sure. Ultimately, he’s the coach, the one who strikes every thing, the one who makes the modifications, the one who carried out this philosophy… However lots of issues have modified on the membership which have helped issues move.
Bodily, with physiotherapists… for us, it’s essential to have nearly all gamers accessible as a result of we’ve a aggressive squad. An important job has been executed, and it exhibits.
“You may see that the staff runs, that we’re all in good condition, apart from the 2 severe accidents we had… and that’s vital if you wish to win trophies.”
The German coach’s popularity initially precipitated some apprehension, as he mentioned: “Folks had been saying, ‘Be careful, right here comes the German sergeant!’ (laughs) But it surely’s nothing like that. He’s truly very approachable.
“When it’s time to work, we work critically, however he’s at all times speaking to everybody.”
Studying German has been a problem for Araujo: “I don’t perceive a factor! (laughs) When the workers speaks amongst themselves, it’s not possible. However the coach speaks English very clearly, so we perceive one another effectively.”
On his teammates
When requested to call the hardest participant he has needed to defend towards in coaching, Araujo named Lamine Yamal, saying:
“I make issues powerful for everybody, however Lamine is particular. He drags you in all places, exhibits you the ball, then hides it. I keep in mind when he first skilled with us, he wouldn’t dare take me on. Now, he comes straight at you! He’s particular.”
One other participant who has impressed him is Dani Olmo, as he mentioned: “He’s so proficient – retains the ball glued to his ft, and it’s laborious to take it away from him.”
Araujo has shaped a robust defensive partnership with Pau Cubarsi, who has matured past his years.
“Pau is excellent, superb. And really clever. He jogs my memory lots of Pique in the best way he finds these filtered passes. He has lots of character regardless of being so younger,” mentioned Araujo.
“We’ve constructed an amazing connection, additionally with Íñigo now. Pau is vital for the membership and for us. Hopefully, he continues like this for a very long time.”
The defender additionally defended Raphinha, who confronted criticism at instances at Barcelona however has come into his personal this season, saying:
“Once you play right here, it’s a must to perceive that there’s strain in each match and each second. The accountability is big. However Raphinha has at all times had expertise, he has at all times proven it.
“He simply wanted confidence, to really feel joyful, after which he might unleash his full potential. He has at all times been vital since he arrived. Now, he’s enjoying with confidence and is joyful, and that’s what a participant must carry out at his finest.”
