Barcelona locker room stands behind club captain following costly mistake vs Chelsea | OneFootball

FC Barcelona’s 3-0 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday left the team shaken, but no player felt the weight of the result more than Ronald Araujo.

The captain was sent off in the 44th minute after receiving a second yellow card, leaving the team at a disadvantage. As reported, the 26-year-old defender has been deeply affected by the impact of his error.

Barcelona close ranks around Araujo

Now, according to Mundo Deportivo, the Barcelona locker room is fully supporting Araujo and standing by him as he goes through a difficult time.

Two days after the Chelsea game, the Uruguayan arrived at the Ciutat Esportiva fully aware of the scale of what had happened. The group did not leave him on his own.

The dressing room rallied around him from the tunnel in London and repeated that support when training restarted. “They know how important he is and the influence he has,” a club member said.

Teammates stand by Araujo

The squad’s reaction has an explanation that goes beyond the armband. Araujo is one of the players who is always present during difficult moments for his teammates.

Araujo was sent off vs Chelsea. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Younger players feel close to him because of his age and personality. He is the one who organises get-togethers and steps up when he notices someone needs support.

Araujo, who is usually the one to hold others up, was the one who needed help this time. After the sending off, he was visibly frustrated, aware not only of the mistake but also of his responsibility as captain to set an example.

His teammates delivered a clear message straight away: this is football, and he should be the last person to be blamed. Even Hansi Flick offered him his hand as he walked towards the dressing room. And the squad has closed ranks around him.

The coaching staff stands by the decision of starting him against Chelsea as they felt he was the ideal centre-back for that type of match because of his power, his physique, and his aerial ability.

Even though he has been affected, Arajo himself told the staff that he feels strong and eager to help the group in any way he can. And inside the club, nobody doubts him: if anyone is capable of getting back up quickly, it is their captain.