This season, FC Barcelona have four very competent center-backs, which can lead to a selection dilemma for Xavi. All four of Ronald Araujo, Jules Kounde, Andreas Christensen, and Inigo Martinez, have performed well this season.
However, Xavi can play only two center-backs at a time but has used one of these players to cover for the right-back position as Cancelo has been deployed as a right winger and left-back on multiple occasions.
Previously, it was reported that Kounde is not too keen on playing on the flank for Barcelona, and now, as SPORT has reported, Ronald Araujo has also declared that he does not like to play as a fullback.
Speaking to beIN Sports before the match against Atletico Madrid, Araujo acknowledged: “I don’t like playing as a right-back, I prefer playing as a center-back.”
Araujo has been selected by Xavi to play in the right-back position, especially as he impressed in this position, keeping players like Vinicius Junior in check with his physicality and pace.
But despite his desire to keep playing in the center, Araujo is likely to start the game as a right-back against Atletico Madrid, as Xavi will be looking to contain the pacy Atletico wingers.
Kounde and Inigo Martinez will be the central defenders, while Cancelo will once again take a higher position on the left wing.
In addition to declaring his preference on the pitch, Araujo also spoke about the Atletico Madrid team that he will be facing on Sunday. He picked two players in particular who can hurt Barcelona:
“We’re facing a strong and organized team. Antoine Griezmann and Morata are in excellent shape, and we need to be careful.”
However, the defender also believed that the two upcoming matches will not decide Barcelona’s fate in the league, as there was still a lot of time to go till the end of the competition:
“Losing points in the next two games means nothing; the league is still long.”
