Flick’s demands brought out the best Raphinha | Football | Sport

Captain and goalscorer Raphinha wins over the dressing room and Hansi Flick, as well as the Barça fans. When the Brazilian seemed doomed to bear the burden of his high cost (58 million), Kule fans justified the striker’s bold and decisive football. “Rafinha, Rafinha, Rafinha,” sang the crowd in Montjuïc after he provided an assist for a goal against Young Boys. Hansi Flick’s success has strengthened him, but mainly due to Raphinha’s resilience. “We knew we had to respond to the game in Monaco. We performed very well. We lost in the League in Pamplona and we had to react. It’s much easier for our fans thanks to their support. “I’m glad we got a good win,” said Rafinha, who was named the game’s MVP.

When Deco took over the sports business, Dembele’s agents convinced him it was best to emigrate. They believed that the new sports ground would pamper Raphinha and not the French striker. Then Dembele broke the contract with Xavi and left for Paris in the summer of 2023. Then came Raphinha’s moment at Barca. But no. Then it happened that the dressing room lost confidence in Xavi, at the same time the team was lost on the field.

Raphinha was not part of the group in the dressing room that privately criticized Xavi, but did not support him either. However, when the Catalan coach was fired from Barca, Rafinha sighed. Flick’s breathtaking football predicted a better future for him at Barça. From the very beginning, the first thing the forward emphasized about his new coach was his ability to work. “I like it, now let’s train,” he commented on his surroundings.

In any case, it turns out that Flick has not only found his best option, with the striker attacking the space bordering the left flank, because his favorite, the right one, has a master named Lamin Yamal. Against Young Boys, Raphinha slipped between the midfielders behind Lewandowski. No less effective for the coach was his play between the lines. With Switzerland cornered near their goal, the Brazilian sneaked into the penalty area and Lewandowski scored against the new European team, number 35. Only Messi (40) and Cristiano (39) had more victims than the Pole. “I always had the desire to play well. What has changed the most in my game is my position on the field. You always have to run. The result doesn’t matter. The most important thing is to give your all to the team,” said Rafinha.

But Raphinha was not satisfied. And he seemed to irrigate Montjuïc with calm. When Young Boys threatened to appear in Iñaki Pena’s penalty area, the Brazilian scored Barcelona’s second, sixth goal of the season. He also adds three assists. In just 10 games. Led by Rafinha, Barcelona are recovering in Europe after their failure in Monaco. Flick justifies Raphinha, as does the Barcelona fan. “Rafinha played very well. But we can’t talk about just one player. It’s important to play as a team. Raphinha can only play well if his teammates do the same,” Flick said.

Raphinha wasn’t the only one honored by Barca fans. Ansu Fati and De Jong returned to Montjuic and the crowd spoiled the two injured players. “It’s always tough when you’re injured. It’s a difficult process. I didn’t expect such an ovation. “I’m very happy with the way people treat me,” the Dutchman explained. And he added: “I see that the team is in good shape, at a good moment. Lots of energy, lots of dynamism, we’re playing well. We need to keep it up and improve to see how far we get.” In the same vein, Inigo Martinez added: “After the coach arrived, the idea worked well. We had a great pre-season and feel comfortable with this style of play. We come in with much more clarity and the team is freer. Let’s keep going and don’t let it stop.” And Rafinha concluded: “We have the idea of ​​high pressing and we do it very well. We are doing very well. Physically, everyone on the field is strong. The Brazilian is supported by his goals and assists.