Raphinha returns, targets Champions League glory for Barcelona | OneFootball

Recovered from a muscle injury in his right thigh, Raphinha celebrated his return to Barcelona during a press conference this Monday. The Brazilian forward played for about 10 minutes in the 4-0 thrashing of Athletic Bilbao last Saturday.

“Coming back to play is very special for me. I was out for two months and it was tough. I always want to be on the pitch and this period was complicated. It’s special to play in this stadium. I love it. If the coach picks me, I’ll give my all. I hope I can contribute to the team,” he said.

“I went through a very difficult period. It was a complicated phase. I always want to be on the pitch, helping and playing as many minutes as possible. It was a tough moment for me. Coming back after two months means I need to regain the ideal physical shape to play,” he added.

On the eve of the match against Chelsea in the Champions League, Raphinha said that the main goal is to win Europe’s top tournament. Last season, the team was eliminated in the semifinals by Inter Milan.

“I’ve always said this, the main goal has to be the Champions League. It’s been that way since I arrived. Last year, we were so close to the final, and this year I see the team more mature. It’s a very tough competition. We’ll do our best to reach the final and win it,” he declared.

Coach Hans Flick, meanwhile, called for caution with Raphinha’s return after two injuries.

“We have to take it easy with him. He’s back. We still need to see how long he can play. He’s already been injured twice, and that’s not good. We have to take care of him. I’m very happy to have him back. I love that,” he concluded.

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This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.