Ronald Araujo has had a challenging season so far. After suffering a serious injury last summer, he had to play catch-up with his Barcelona teammates. However, the defender now feels he is back to his best.
Barcelona’s playing style has also changed this season. Under Hansi Flick, the team’s approach is much more intense and fast-paced, a shift that Araujo struggled to adjust to at first. Speaking to Sport, Araujo explained how different the style is from what he was used to.
“It’s something I’ve never played before, and I don’t think many here have either,” he said. “I watch a lot of football, and the only team that plays something similar is Liverpool, but they don’t take as many risks as we do. It’s all about details, and timing matters. We have to be well-organized, and it’s the first time I’ve worked like this. But this new philosophy has been working for us.”
Araujo added that the team trains this new style every day, and it takes time to perfect. “A pre-season helps you learn the system. In the beginning, we didn’t execute it the way we do now, but as time passes, you get a better feeling for it. I believe that with more time, it will continue to improve. If it brings results, we need to stick with it.”
The Uruguayan also opened up about one of his toughest moments as a Barcelona player: the red card he received in last season’s Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain. He admitted that the incident haunted him for a while but noted that he eventually moved past it.
“At first, it affected me, especially for the rest of the season. But with time, I let it go—it’s part of the past now. A clean slate. There’s a new story to write. The great players are mentally strong and know how to overcome setbacks, and I consider myself one of them,” he said.
While Araujo acknowledged that he wasn’t at his usual level after the red card, he remains focused on the future. “I won’t deny that in La Liga I wasn’t performing at my best after that, but we must keep pushing forward. There is still a lot to achieve and contribute to this club.”
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