Raphinha was the player selected by FC Barcelona to appear alongside Hansi Flick in the press conference before the match between Barça and Bayern Munich, which will take place on Wednesday, October 23rd at 9:00 PM at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, home of the Catalan team. During his speech, the Porto Alegre native began by discussing his imminent milestone of 100 games as a player for the team, sharing his thoughts on the matter:
"Reaching 100 matches will be a special game, but we are working hard, I will celebrate it after the match, hopefully with a victory. We want the three points, which is crucial," he emphasized.
Raphinha took the opportunity to explain the reason behind his notable improvement in performance this season. So far, the Brazilian forward has scored a total of six goals and provided eight assists, becoming one of the main offensive references in the Catalan team. In light of this, the former Leeds player decided to outline several reasons that have contributed to his enhanced performance:
"I can say it's partly mental, partly tactical. Also, the confidence that the coach and the players give me is very important. The way they support me after three years here, with both veterans and young players. I started with a different mentality, adapting to different positions, and I am giving my best," he pointed out.
Furthermore, the '11' of Barcelona expressed his fascination with the prospect of becoming one of the captains of the Blaugrana team, highlighting the responsibility that comes with this role and the pride he feels in fulfilling it. "Being a captain is not just about wearing the armband, it's about helping the veterans, the young players, listening to them, understanding how people are and what they need. I just try to help everyone in any way I can, I am always available, and I am very excited and happy to be one of the captains. There have been many players who have made a great history as captains, and I want to follow that path," he stated.
Criticism and Concerns Surrounding a Specific Issue in the 'Nico Williams Case' at Barcelona
Likewise, Raphinha addressed how he deals with the complex environment at FC Barcelona, where criticism towards players who do not perform optimally is often a daily occurrence. "Players are under scrutiny from critics, but we have to know how to deal with it. Since I arrived, I have been the target of criticism, but I work hard and block out the noise," he emphasized.
In this regard, the Porto Alegre native also specifically commented on a situation where there were rumors that if Nico Williams joined FC Barcelona, he would be given the number 11 shirt, which would imply his departure from the team. "The shirt incident was not funny, it was a tasteless joke. In the end, I think people need to respect the players who are at the club. Throughout the season, we have been giving our best, and seeing a photo like that doesn't sit well with you. I feel it was disrespectful, but people do as they please and choose the numbers they want," he added.
Admiration for Lamine Yamal and Joy Over the Return of Several Injured Barcelona Players
In a true display of professionalism and admiration towards Lamine Yamal, Raphinha highlighted the potential for learning from a talent of his caliber, despite his youth. "I learn a lot despite his age. He has been through many things in football, and we are always learning from both veterans and young players," he emphasized.
In this context, when speaking about his teammates, Raphinha expressed his happiness at the return of Pablo Gavi to FC Barcelona. "He's an incredible person, a caring guy, even if it doesn’t seem like it sometimes. Seeing what he has gone through, the mental challenges caused by an injury, it's quite emotional to see him back playing in our stadium and the fans getting emotional. Of course, we are a bit concerned about how he is doing in the matches, but overall, we are happy," he argued.
He was also asked about what Dani Olmo's return brings to the team and in general about the gradual return of all the injured players who have been reintegrating. "The more players we have available, the better for us. Dani is a player of very high quality and he helps us a lot. He has shown it. Now we have Frenkie back, Dani, Fermín... I hope they are all available. It will be a problem for the coach, but much better for us," he pointed out.
The duel against Bayern Munich and Barcelona's expectations regarding the Champions League
Speaking about the match against Bayern Munich, Raphinha did not consider the encounter against the Bavarians as a possible revenge, but rather pointed out that the team is focused on achieving victory without thinking about external aspects. "I don't see it as revenge. What happened, happened. And we are training hard to achieve a good result. We focus on this match," he asserted.
In addition to this, Raphinha also addressed the possibility of whether a negative result in this match, as well as in the upcoming one against Real Madrid on Saturday, October 26, could affect the group, a matter he did not want to delve into. "Football is a sport where you have to be prepared for the three possible scenarios. There is another team seeking victory like us, and we have to be mentally ready," he added.
To conclude, the forward made it clear that for this UEFA Champions League, there is no additional motivation due to the elimination in the previous edition against PSG. The motivation remains the same: to win, advance as far as possible, and maintain a competitive spirit. "I left that match against PSG quite sad because I saw that we were quite close to reaching a final and winning it, but what happened, happened. It was a pity, but now it's a new Champions League and the goal is always to win the Champions League, the League, or the Cup. In a club like this, you have to have winning as many titles as possible in mind. And we will fight for this Champions League," he concluded.