‘If I played up front…‘ —Ronald Araujo jokes about playing striker after scoring Barcelona’s winning goal vs Girona | OneFootball

Ronald Araujo was the hero of the game as FC Barcelona hosted Girona in their first La Liga game following the end of the October international break.

The Uruguayan defender, who played as a striker after coming on in the final moments of the game, scored the winning goal in injury time to give his team a much-needed win.

As Mundo Deportivo has reported, the center-back spoke to DAZN after this heroic outing, and in addition to expressing his happiness on this hard-fought win, also recognized the difficulty of this game:

“It was important to get all three points ahead of the big game we have this week in La Liga (El Clásico against Real Madrid). The truth is that the match became a bit complicated for us — Girona played very well and put up a real fight. They had many chances, but the important thing is that the team showed desire and character until the end.”

Ronald Araujo also highlighted how this victory will serve as a much-needed morale boost after recent setbacks.

“We knew we were coming off two very tough defeats, but with hunger and hard work, we knew we could get the win today. Looking ahead to this week, with the Champions League as well, it’s important to go into it with confidence,” Araujo added, acknowledging that “after a win, everything changes — the atmosphere and the way we work.”

The 26-year-old also showed his lighter side when asked about his surprising role as a centre-forward. Having played as a striker during his early days at Boston River, Araujo joked about his instinct in front of goal.

“Everyone knows I used to play as a striker. I think if I played up front, I could score a lot more goals (laughs). When the coach asked me, I didn’t hesitate to say yes. When I was getting ready and putting on the shirt, I said, ‘If I go in, I’ll score,’ and everyone laughed after I did. I work hard to be able to play for this team, so I’m happy about that.”

While Araujo is not always a guaranteed starter under Hansi Flick, his influence within the squad remains undeniable. With this decisive performance and a goal that reignited Barcelona’s momentum, the Uruguayan’s importance to the team looks set to grow even further as they prepare for El Clásico and the challenges ahead.