Raphinha, one of the standout players in this Barcelona team, was visibly upset following the disappointing loss to Atletico Madrid at Montjuic.
The Brazilian winger expressed his frustration over the outcome, believing the final score did not accurately reflect the team’s overall performance.
The defeat, in his view, stemmed from specific individual mistakes rather than a lack of effort or quality on the pitch.
Raphinha’s analysis
Despite the challenging result, Raphinha displayed a sense of accountability, taking full responsibility for the team’s loss.
He acknowledged two key moments where his actions directly impacted the game. First, he missed a crucial goal-scoring opportunity, and shortly after, Atletico capitalised to level the score.
Ganamos todos y perdemos todos. Has hecho un buen partido y estás haciendo una gran temporada. Ánimo, Rapha ❤️ pic.twitter.com/fyr1MC3zJo
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona_es) December 21, 2024
“I think we played very well. The team has behaved very well. I have the habit of saying that we don’t control the result but we do control the delivery on the field. I think we played very well today,” he said.
Taking responsibility
Later, a misplaced pass from Raphinha led to Atletico’s second goal, putting Barcelona on the back foot. Rather than shifting blame, Raphinha openly admitted his role in these pivotal moments, emphasising his determination to learn from the experience.
“I accept this defeat today. In the end, I lost a goal and I think about five minutes later they got the equalizer and then missed a pass that led to their second goal. I put all of today’s defeat on my responsibility. Life is like that.”
The winger remained committed to his belief in the team’s overall progress and potential. He highlighted the effort and dedication shown by the squad throughout the game.
Despite the setback, Raphinha underscored the importance of staying focused and continuing to work hard as the season progresses. With half of the La Liga campaign still ahead, there is plenty of time to bounce back and achieve positive results.
“We believe in the work we are doing. There is still half of La Liga left. We have to focus on working and looking for the best results,” said the winger.