Raphael Dias ‘Raphinha’ admitted in an interview for Barça One who was not expected to be one of the captains of FC Barcelonabut the election gave him “much joy.” “I was very happy about the election. If I say that I expected it would be lying, but I was very happy that I was chosen,” he stressed. In the opinion of the 27-year-old Brazilian international winger, this leap in the hierarchy represents support from his own teammates. “What I do inside the locker room, the guys and most of the veterans see it. Being the captain is not just one of the four of us. It means being ready to help with everything that is needed on and off the field. field,” he listed. For all these reasons, more than two years after his signing, Raphinha finds himself “having the best time”, also warning that he can “improve more, help more”.
Being named captain elevated him while highlighting the weight of other players who don’t wear the armband. “Being a captain is more in profile. For example, Robert (Lewandowski), Jules (Koundé)they can also be captains. There are many who can be captains in this locker room. That’s why I’m so happy about the election,” he insisted.
Regarding Barça’s aspirations this season, Raphinha warned of what it means to play for “a club of this greatness”, “When you come to play for a team like Barça you have to think to fight all you have to do is play. Champions, League, Cup, Super Cup… If you come here and don’t think about winning it all, you’re at the wrong club. head,” he highlighted.
For this, Raphinha considers that there is material man to go with everyone. “We have a very good squad. In the end when you play with very high quality and smart players, everything becomes easier. And it is not easy to get to Barça. If you come and show why you are here, it should be easier, ” said.
Barça’s brilliant summer signing is Dani Olmowhose rapid union was celebrated by Raphinha. “Dani Olmo has contributed a lot. We are a family and we have to help each other. The club is doing well and for us. Dani I have already shown why Barça wants to sign him and the least we can do is help he adapted to the team,” he reflected.
Raphinha spoke of his own evolution at Barça, since his arrival from Leeds in the summer of 2022. “My first season at Barça was one of adaptation and cost me more, especially in the first six months , before the World Cup,” he explained. Raphinha admits that she lacks overflow. “I lost a little of that quality, but football changes and you have to adapt. 1 on 1 is one of my qualities, although I have other strengths that contribute a lot to my way of playing,” he emphasized.
In his self-portrait, Raphinha appreciated as a turning point what his contribution to the final 2023-24 Champions League tie against PSG meant on an individual level, although collectively it was a farewell to the tournament . “I ended up experiencing two moments in this tie against PSG. Individually, I played my two best games in the Champions League, but then I had the feeling that I didn’t do enough to advance to the next stage. Of course, it helped me to have more confidence and believe in myself more and also people to trust me a little more to know my potential,” he described.
This individual stimulus must return to the collective good, but it is good that it exists. “There are individual and collective challenges, we all have them. I have a personal challenge of goals and assists, as well as MVP of matches and some MVP of player of the month. I have individual challenges and in At the end of the season I will be talking about whether I have fulfilled them,” he said. .
Of course, after scoring the first hat trick of his career in Barça’s 7-0 victory over Valladolid, Raphinha warned not to go out on the field with such intentions. “The hat trick made me happy, the first in my professional career, and even though I attach great importance to numbers, I don’t attach much importance to the thought ‘I’m going to do a hat trick’; like of scoring and assisting, but “Team success is more important.”
In that sense, Raphinha highlighted Barça-Vallaolid as “the best we’ve played this season.” “Now, let’s go for Girona,” he said while describing what the new coach asked of them, Hansi Flickwhich emphasizes the group. “We’re doing very well, really. When you win the first 4 games in the league, things are easier for you. People outside are very excited about us, but we know that the season has started just yet and we have to continue like this.” “Individually, Fkick does not ask for anything special, but he asks that we be a team, that when we attack, press or defend we do everything. That’s the only way we can win games. We are 11 against 11 against teams that are also working hard. during the week and when they will play “They gave their lives against us. We cannot fail and we have to be ready to defend and attack, because we are working hard physically to get to the game and not feel too tired. ” That also required a personal plan. “I knew that if I wanted to play and be at my best I had to adapt as soon as possible to the idea of ’mister’,” he explained.
Finally, Raphinha admitted that he rode “by bike with my wife” near the Spotify Camp Nou construction site and dreams of playing in the new stadium. “”I’m excited to play at Spotify Camp Nou. Many times I cycle with my husband near Spotify and they seem to stay the same and although slowly, I am excited to play there,” he concluded.
Source: La Verdad
I am Shawn Partain, a journalist and content creator working for the Today Times Live. I specialize in sports journalism, writing articles that cover major sporting events and news stories. With a passion for storytelling and an eye for detail, I strive to be accurate and insightful in my work.
