Araujo rates Barcelona’s treble chances ahead of Copa del Rey final vs Real Madrid – ‘Capable of achieving everything’ | OneFootball

Barcelona will be aiming to lift their second trophy of the 2024/25 season on Saturday when they take on bitter rivals Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey finals.

The Blaugrana have already beaten Los Blancos in the Spanish Super Cup final back in January and will be gunning for a repeat of that outcome tomorrow at Estadio de La Cartuja in Seville.

Ahead of the heavyweight encounter tomorrow, Ronald Araujo accompanied manager Hansi Flick for the customary pre-match press conference and gave his two cents about what lies ahead.

Barcelona have dismantled Real Madrid twice this season but the Uruguayan international insisted that tomorrow’s match will be different from the ones they have already won.

“It will be a different match to the ones we’ve played so far, we’re looking for the title and we want to win it,” he noted.

“It will be a totally different game to the ones we’ve played before. We want to be protagonists with the ball. The most important thing is to look for the game and win it,” he later added.

On the chances of Barcelona winning the treble this season, Araujo stated: “The team is very good, you can see that. We are capable of achieving everything, but we have to go game by game, that mentality brought us here.”

Heading into the match, there has been a lot of noise around the referee appointment, with Real Madrid requesting a change of officials that has been turned down by the RFEF.

On that, Araujo said: “The truth is that I didn’t see the images. They told me that I could be asked about it. Being a referee is a very difficult profession.”

When asked if tomorrow’s final will have an impact on the rest of the season for Barcelona, the Uruguayan international remarked:

“Winning a title is always important and even more so against your biggest rival. But if it doesn’t happen, we’ll keep going for the rest. The mentality is to go and win everything.”

The Barcelona captain was also full of praise for the youngsters in the team and how they had stepped up at the highest level, stating:

“They surprise me because they have an immense, incredible calmness. They don’t seem to have a final. Cubarsi, Fort, Lamine, Fermin… It’s La Masia, they are not afraid. We are also motivated by them, I hope we can give joy to our people.”

Commenting on the season that Barcelona have had thus far, Araujo said: “I wouldn’t have believed it in August but this team deserves it. That the team can fight for everything now is a joy for everyone. We deserve it.”

Araujo confident of Barcelona’s success. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)

On the euphoria surrounding the team heading into the final phase of the season, he added: “I’m more about motivation than euphoria. We are aware of the responsibility of representing this club.”

When asked if Barcelona are the favourites for the cup final tomorrow, the centre-back stated:

“We are playing against Madrid, a great team with great players. It will be very difficult. We have to take it with humility. We don’t all comment on the weather or the treble, we have fun training.”

On the threat that Real Madrid carry, he added: “Great team, great players, very decisive up top.”

When probed if injuries will hurt Los Blancos, he replied: “It’s a great team with great players and a great coach who has won what he has won. We have to respect them.”

The Barcelona captain then shed light on his relationship with Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde, saying:

“He’s a great friend of mine but we don’t talk before a game. Then we can send a message to each other. He’s an excellent player.”

On whether he will have to play as a full-back in the Clasico final, he noted: “They didn’t say anything to me but I’m ready for anything, to help. If they ask me to do my best.”

Concluding, Araujo was asked if this Barcelona team was the best in the world and whether this marked a new era of domination for the club. In response, he said:

“You know me, I’m more of a humble person and it’s not going to come out of my mouth to say that we are the best team in the world, as you ask.

“In the future, we want to be feared because the club deserves it. Hopefully, we can give the fans something to cheer about in this final.”

Source: Mundo Deportivo