FC Barcelona could only get a draw in their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first leg against Napoli, thus keeping the tie open for the second leg which will be played at the Montjuic on 12th March.
As already reported, Ronald Araujo was one of the players who talked to the media after the game and analyzed the team’s performance. But his comments after the match were not limited only to the performance on the pitch.
As Mundo Deportivo has reported, the center-back also commented on his situation at the club, which has been a subject much discussed in the media in the last few weeks. In this regard, the Uruguayan said:
“I’m very well, my family is very well, and I’m very happy in Barcelona, I’ve been here for almost five years and I demonstrate that every time I wear this shirt on the field, and I’ll always do it, very happy to be here. No, no, I’m very happy here in Barcelona.”
The current Barcelona team has seen its defensive performances decline significantly since the last season when the Blaugranes had won the league mainly on the back of its solid defence. But Araujo commended the backline for its display in this particular match against Napoli:
“We knew the forwards they had, and we did a great defensive job. They had one shot on goal, and we did a great job. If defensively we are solid, this team is very tough and very difficult to beat.”
“Last year we showed that by winning many games 1-0 thanks to our great defensive work. The team ran, and that’s important because when the team runs, we are a tough team and we compete very well.”
Similarly, the defender also praised Lewandowski, who has been able to turn around his form at a time when his goals matter the most. Regarding the Pole, Araujo said:
“He’s our forward, our goal scorer, and he’s very important for us. Throughout his career, he has scored goals and he’s giving us a lot.”
With his comments, Araujo has dismissed some of the uncertainty regarding his future at the club. However, his continuity at Barcelona is going to remain a subject of speculation for the upcoming summer, as Bayern Munich are pushing for him to change his mind and join the German team for the next season.
