In Barcelona’s more physical and extensive training sessions, just as dedicated to the ball, Raphinha changes skin in the exercises drawn up by Hansi Flick. In some, he copies the work with Dani Olmo in the number 10 position; in others, he dresses as a winger. There is one thing, however, that the Brazilian does not change: his sacrifice to attack the space. “I feel good, I have been working hard since I returned from vacation. I knew that this season was very important for me and I try to be at my best,” said Raphinha, after Barça’s thrashing of Valladolid, the most lopsided of the Blaugrana in La Liga since they thrashed Deportivo in 2016 (0-8), at that time with Messi, Luis Suárez and Neymar in the starting eleven.
It is no coincidence that Raphinha spoke about his last summer. Since he arrived at Barcelona he has always felt under suspicion. According to the player’s entourage, Xavi Hernández did not help him. “He was very bothered by what was happening with Xavi. He never played more than 60 minutes. He did not have the trust of the coach, neither when he played nor when he trained,” explained sources close to the Brazilian footballer. Without support from the coaching staff, Raphinha also lost the trust of a section of the directors: the club never hid the idea of signing Nico Williams. “Due to fair play issues, for every player who arrives, another will have to leave,” commented sources from the sports department before the transfer market.
It was not difficult for Raphinha to deduce that his name was in the shop window. However, the player was not willing to sell his departure cheaply, not even when Joan Laporta publicly spoke of the possibility of signing Nico Williams. He found himself, in any case, with an unexpected ally: Hansi Flick. “He is delighted with Flick. Above all, grateful for the possibility of being able to play more than 60 minutes and for the freedom to move around the pitch, whether as a midfielder or as a false winger,” insist the same sources close to the player. And he showed his gratitude with goals, essentially with effort. “I am not surprised by Raphinha’s level, perhaps he needs time to score another hat-trick. He has the level to achieve them more often. He feels very free on the pitch, it is important that he moves to open spaces,” explained Flick. And Raphinha added: “I don’t know if it was my best game, but it was among the best. I am very happy, it is the first hat-trick of my career and happy to help my teammates.”
The joy was not only for Raphinha at Barcelona. Dani Olmo, known as El Mago in Germany, scored for the second consecutive match, while Lewandowski continues his scoring streak, four goals in as many games. “The match has shown that there is no need for other players to come. The team is working hard and this result says a lot about what we are doing at the moment. We always want to score a lot of goals, but the utmost respect for the opponent is to score goals without making jokes,” concluded Raphinha.
The player praises the squad; the coach, the work of the sporting director. “Deco has brought great experts to the staff, the medical work is incredible, everything gives us a lot of strength, the players believe that they are well trained and that they can get their best level. We have 12 points and that is not bad at all, but football changes very quickly,” said the German coach, who received the first ovation at Montjuïc. “It makes me feel proud that the fans chant my name, but we are in the fourth game and things can change. With our work we want to make the fans happy, we have to keep going, it is about improving after each game, the road is long. I like the connection with the fans, the team is 100% behind Barça, if you see it on the field it transfers to the stands, who see good play and work,” concluded the Barcelona coach.
Barcelona wakes up thanks to Hansi Flick, a relief for Laporta and company, and also for part of the dressing room. If not, just ask Raphinha.
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