The Brazilian’s performance is increasing and he is agreeing with Xavi with his importance for the team
The close return of the French forward will cause a ‘fight’ for who occupies the right wing
Raphinha has taken full advantage of Ousmane Dembélé’s absence due to injury. The Frenchman’s return is very close -it could be against Athletic Club next Sunday- and the ‘fight’ between the two to occupy the right wing of Barça’s attack is expected to be exciting. This healthy competition between the two can only benefit the Barca team and Xavi will have to be the one to solve the blessed ‘problem’ that he has right now.
The Barça coach has never hidden that he is in love with Dembélé, of whom he has come to say that he can be the best in his position if he wants to. Under his orders, he has played his best games for Barça and has made a lot of progress in understanding the game, making decisions and staying with it, despite the fact that he is now injured. But Xavi also loves Raphinha. “Whenever he plays, things happen,” he said not long ago.
With his goal against Valencia (similar to the one he scored in Pamplona), the Brazilian saved three key points for the team because, combined with Real Madrid’s draw against Betis, allowed the blaugrana to be 9 points behind in the League. Raphinha has been key in these last games to fortify Barça’s leadership. In the last nine games he has scored three goals in the League (Betis, Sevilla and Valencia) and one in the Europa League, against Manchester United at the Spotify Camp Nou.
The records of the former Leeds player are already very similar to those of Dembélé. The two have scored the same goals, 8, but the Brazilian has two more assists than the Frenchman. The nine that he has delivered leave him as the team’s top assist this season. The two have scored two goals in the Copa del Rey (Intercity and Ceuta) and while Ousmane scored once in the Champions League, Raphinha did so in the Europa League against Manchester United at the Spotify Camp Nou. In the KO competition, the Brazilian has given two assists and with his defensive work it was very important to achieve victory at the Bernabéu. Due to the injury, Dembélé has fallen a bit behind in the total minutes played, although the difference is by no means abysmal. 1,963 minutes of the Brazilian for 1,862 of the French.
The Brazilian’s performance has clearly improved after a start to the season in which he did not quite feel comfortable because he had to play on the left wing for many games. That led him to have a conversation with Xavi Hernández and from what has been seen it has paid off.. “Private conversations are important with everyone. It’s important to know that your coach and staff trust. For me, it was very important because I’m at a new club. I’ve changed on a mental level, because physically I was always in great shape. It’s normal to have some doubts when you arrive at a new club. I see myself better than when I started and I hope to continue like this,” he said before playing against United.
And really, its performance has nothing to do with it. The Barça fans knew how to reward his good play by giving him a standing ovation when he left the field against Valencia. Raphinha’s hatching has already arrived. Dembélé will have to come back strong if he doesn’t want his place on the right wing of the Barca attack to be definitively taken away.