Ahead of Liverpool's Champions League Matchday 3 clash against Villarreal at home, Liverpool defender Ronald Araujo attended a press conference to answer media questions. In the first part of the conference, Araujo discussed his adaptation to life at Liverpool, his feelings about playing at right-back, the team's competitiveness in the Champions League, and his future. He also assessed Villarreal's strength and the impact of Szoboszlai's injury on the team.
Reporter: Good afternoon, Ronald. How are you adapting to life in Liverpool? Has everything at the club met your expectations?
R. Araujo: First of all, hello everyone. I am learning English, so I think my progress might be faster than I initially expected. To be honest, Liverpool has truly surprised me. You know Liverpool is a great club, but it's only when you actually come here and see the club's scale, organizational structure, and fanbase with your own eyes that you realize how massive it is.
So I am very happy, because from the moment I arrived, everyone has welcomed me as part of the team, not just the club staff but also the fans. I am very grateful for that, and I hope to repay their support by giving my all in every training session and every match.
Reporter: I imagine when you first joined, we all thought you would primarily play as a center-back. How are you adapting to the right-back position now? Or rather, is it not an issue for you at all?
R. Araujo: It's not a problem because I have played in that position many times before. When I decided to come here, I knew there was a possibility I might play at right-back.
So for me, it's not an entirely unfamiliar position. Ultimately, I always want to do my best, no matter where I am deployed, and no matter what the coach asks of me, I will try to deliver my best performance.
I won't deny that I feel more comfortable at center-back. But ultimately, right-back is not an unfamiliar position for me, and whenever I'm needed there, I will give my all.
Reporter: How much do you know about Villarreal? I know you have a good record against them in the past, but what kind of trouble do you think they will cause Liverpool?
R. Araujo: I know Villarreal very well because I have played against them many times in the past. They are a very good team with many excellent players. If you give them possession, they can control the ball for long periods. I think their ball possession is second only to Barcelona. That speaks volumes about the quality of their players.
But we also have our own excellent players, and we are playing at home, at Anfield. We have our own football philosophy and characteristics, and we must give our all from the first minute. We must take the initiative in the game. If we can do that, I believe we will have a chance to win. Victory is the most wonderful thing, and it is the common goal we all pursue.
Reporter: After joining Liverpool, and based on your experience as a player, how confident are you that the team can go far in this season's Champions League when you look at the current Liverpool squad?
R. Araujo: To be honest, I truly believe we have a very good team. The team has many excellent players and huge potential. Some players have only recently joined, but they have already brought a lot of help to the team. I myself also arrived here recently. The Champions League is a very difficult competition, with many strong teams participating. Sometimes, the outcome of knockout matches often depends on tiny details. But I believe we have the ability to compete for all the titles this season, including the Premier League and cup competitions. Of course, we have to take it one step at a time. We know this season is very long, but I believe we are on the right track.
I think our current training and work are excellent. Although we haven't achieved ideal results in recent matches, I feel the team is always moving forward and constantly improving. This is a very good thing because we know we already have a strong team, and we also know that the team still has the potential to continue growing.
Reporter: Hello, Ronald. As far as I know, Liverpool has a buy-out option to sign you permanently. How do you view your future? Do you wish to stay here, or do you want to return to Barcelona? What are your current thoughts?
R. Araujo: It's too early to talk about these things now. For now, I just want to enjoy every day, continue to grow and improve myself, get game opportunities, complete the tasks the team gives me, and build more confidence. I am really very happy; coming here makes me very glad. My family is also very happy. But it's indeed too early to discuss the future.
Reporter: In the first Champions League match, you provided a wonderful assist for Szoboszlai, and he is now injured. Will you miss him in the next few games? What does he mean to this team?
R. Araujo: First, thank you for the compliment. Dominik is a very excellent player. I saw his abilities from the moment I arrived here. I had seen him play on TV before, but it's only when you actually become his teammate that you truly understand what kind of player he is and what he can bring to the team. He has excellent physical qualities and strong technical ability. He is an extremely important player for our team and the way we play. But now we temporarily cannot field him, and I believe we will definitely miss him.
However, we also have other players who can fill in for him. As I said before, we have many high-level players in our squad. Some players who haven't had playing time before can now play in tomorrow's match. Therefore, we must approach tomorrow's game with joy and anticipation.
Reporter: Ronald, what do you think of the city of Liverpool and its people? Is it different from the life you were used to before? Has anything particularly surprised you in adapting to life here?
R. Araujo: No, to be honest, everything is very good. I used to play for a big club as well, just like Liverpool. However, I feel that the fans here seem even more passionate. You can feel their enthusiasm when you walk on the street, go to Liverpool city center, or eat out. But this is very nice because you can see firsthand how much people here love football.
I can tell you that I am really very happy here. My family is also very happy, which is very important. I am now full of motivation and hope to continue investing in this season, give my all in every game, and perform to the best of my ability. I want to continue learning, continue growing, and become a better player, which is what I have always pursued. And now I am getting game opportunities and the playing time I want, which is exactly what I hoped for. As for what will happen in the future and what I want to do later, we will see then.
AF's PC site is now live! Browse full news, comments, match details and stats on your computer. Visit: www.allfootballapp.com