Ronald Araujo and the Art of Defense

During the past decades, defending was an act that was usually taboo at Barcelona. As if it wasn’t part of the game, as if it was a counter-cultural thing, as if this ungrateful task shouldn’t have the differential treatment it really does on every team that wants to be champions. Beyond the story, even from the moral superiority of those who believe that football consists only of attack and who think that defense is an earthly matter, is almost negligible, Ronald Araujo. If there is a Barcelona footballer who would be an undisputed key player in any team in the world, that is Ronald Araujo. And if there was a current Barcelona footballer who would have been in any of the club’s recent great teams in recent years, it would be the Uruguayan. Win duels, save objectives, eliminate rivals, and lead the group out of the cave. In a team brimming with talent, where defense is understood as a necessary but undervalued underwriter, Araujo transforms the art of defense into a work of art. One that requires appreciation and is to be commended. A game that also wins games.

Uruguay runs all the center back codes at that time. Positioning, speed, strength and ferocity to define the area. Impressive structure, amazing anticipation, tremendous intuition and tremendous stride, Ronald is a mainstay of the team. When football isn’t enough and Barcelona survives, it comes out. With just two training sessions, he saved a goal against Intercity in the cup, and saved the heads of some of his teammates. Far from his best, he saved another goal against Atlético in superlative fashion, ate Joao Felix with fries, won all duels and defended the collie’s territory like a raised cat. Araujo, who will be a captain sooner rather than later, deserves all the praise he receives. He is not the best central defender in Barcelona. It’s the best defense in the tournament. Long.

As a tip, it’s worth stopping by Andreas Christensen. He arrived as a free agent, being a “steal” on the market with the signing of Matteo Alemany, and without having anyone to write to or the press to flatter him, he established himself as a sure value. His case is exactly what Barcelona needs with its interwar economy. Little noise and many nuts. Flag, cover, anticipate, itch, jump and work on the problems others create. And he is not mistaken and does not stick.