Raphinha has been unrecognizable since the start of the season. Flamboyant under the colors of Barça, the Auriverde striker is one of the most decisive actors of the Catalan team, with a breathtaking record of 23 goals and 15 assists in 34 games.
In an interview with France Football, The 28 -year -old versatile winger revealed the three main factors that contributed to his evolution. He notably mentioned the support of his coach Hansi Flick, whose arrival on the Blaugranas bench last summer marked a decisive turning point.
“I knew I would be an important player for the team”
“Confidence is essential to do your job well. (…) I was convinced that in dint of work, I would end up becoming an important player for the team. Then, when his arrival was formalized, Hansi Flick called me and told me that I was one of the players on which he intended to rely, without knowing me and without having seen me training. It counted a lot in my decision to stay ”said the native of Porto Alegre. Indeed, the number 11 of the Cules had been at the heart of many rumors announcing it on departure during the summer transfer window.
“I knew I would be an important player for the team. Flick allowed me to work in all serenity to reach my best level. To be at its maximum, you have to be mentally strong. Anyone who works in a demanding field, physically and mentally, must seek support if it needs it and that is what I did. It was very important for me to work on this aspect, at a time when I knew difficulties and when I cut my arms a little. This mental work helped me a lot to regain my calm and the confidence necessary to do things well ”explained Raphinha.
