Ahead of Liverpool's UEFA Champions League Group Stage Matchday 3 fixture at home against Villarreal, Liverpool defender Araujo attended a press conference and answered questions from the media. In the second part of the press conference, Araujo discussed the pressure of playing for a top club, his progress in learning English, and his assessment of the team's young players.
Reporter: You just mentioned the fans. There's a saying in football that fans should never fall in love with a loan player. But it seems Liverpool fans already really like you, especially appreciating your passion and commitment in matches. Do you feel this connection with the fans is constantly deepening?
R. Araujo: Of course, I'm very grateful for that. It's very important to feel the love from people and fans. At the end of the day, as I always say, I always want to do my best. When I step onto the pitch and give my all, I truly feel that connection with the fans.
Sometimes you play well, sometimes you don't, but that's football. However, the most important thing is always to give your all, and that's something I will always stick to. I try to do that in every match. I am very grateful to every fan because for a player, to come to a team and be recognized in such a way is truly a wonderful thing.
Reporter: Since coming to the Premier League, you seem to have adapted well to the style of play here. Some of your teammates have taken longer to adapt—for example, Florian Wirtz faced criticism for not adjusting quickly, and Barcola was previously questioned for not contributing enough. Do you think it's easier for defenders to adapt to the demands of the Premier League compared to players in other positions? Of course, I know your Premier League experience is still relatively limited.
R. Araujo: Coming to a club like Liverpool is not easy. There are high demands here, which also means you have a lot of responsibility. Personally, I have experienced such an environment before at Barcelona. Barcelona is also a top club with extremely high demands on players. You have to perform at your best in every match. Even if you play well in one match, you still have to do it again in the next.
I think it depends on each player's character and how they face such challenges. Personally, I knew coming to the Premier League meant taking on a new challenge. But from the first moment I arrived, I had no doubt that I had to give my all here. That's how I approach this experience, and I try to enjoy the process. As I said, playing for a top club is not easy. But that's why we're here, and that's the job we have to do.
Reporter: Hello, Ronald. You were one of the team leaders during your time at Barcelona, and Iraola also said he encouraged you to learn English so you could pass on your experience to some of your teammates. How impressed have you been with the young players you play alongside, such as Jaimie Jacquet and Rio Ngumoha? Also, how is your English learning progressing?
R. Araujo: I am learning English. However, what the coach said is indeed very important, because ultimately, I can bring something to the team, including my own characteristics, as well as the experience and knowledge I possess, even if I express it in Spanish. But in the world of football, there is a common language. If you need to shout something to someone on the pitch, even if the language is different, they can usually understand what you mean.
Of course, I'm still working hard to learn English. I hope to continue learning, improving, and growing to better help the entire team. As for the young players, we really do have some excellent youngsters. If I were to talk about them now, I could probably go on and on. However, during matches, I do say things like "good job" and "well done" to Rio and Jaimie in English. We also have Koumas and other very good players.
I think our young players have excellent abilities, and they have already made a lot of contributions to the team. I believe they will make huge contributions to the team in the future and create a bright future for this club. That is the most important thing.
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