Barcelona won their first trophy of the 2022/23 season as they cruised to a resounding win 3-1 over arch-rivals Real Madrid in the finals of the Spanish Super Cup.
Defender Ronald Araujo was elated after the win, as he spoke to the media, revealing what it meant for him after the past three months when he was bogged down with an injury.
“I was in tears. I had a hard time with the injury on an emotional level because I missed the World Cup,” he said.
Insisting that this was the dawn of a new era for the team, Araujo added: “This is a start of a new era, that is why this title is so beautiful. I’m very happy, we’ve come from very hard times.”
Frenkie de Jong has well and truly turned around his fortune at Barcelona. From being linked with an exit in the summer to dropping a masterclass in an El Clasico Supercup final, the Dutchman has proven his worth to the manager.
The former Ajax star completed 94% of his passes against Real Madrid and was flawless in his distribution. Alongside Sergio Busquets, he held the Catalan fortress and outclassed Los Blancos’ star-studded midfield.
De Jong spoke to the press after his team’s win in Riyadh and gave his thoughts about the team’s performance. When asked about his feelings after the game, he said: “We played a great match, and we were keen to win.”
The Dutch international did not let the result get ahead of him, however, and maintained that there were still areas where the team needed to improve. His mentality and hunger for improvement reflected his performance on the field and show the mark of a great player.
“We need to keep improving for success. I feel very relieved and happy,” de Jong added.
Former Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski was critical to the Catalans’ success against Real Madrid as he assisted Gavi’s opener before scoring the second goal.
He would eventually be involved in the third goal too, albeit in the form of a pre-assist. The Pole reflected on the game and lauded his teammates when confronted by the media.
“We did a great job. We managed the game and the result very well. We had fun,” the Pole said.
The trophy was Lewandowski’s first since making his move to Barcelona in the summer. The veteran striker emphasised that he moved to Catalonia for nights like this. “I came to Barcelona knowing I had to win titles,” he added.
Finally, the striker revealed the advice he gave Gavi before the start of the final which helped them strike up a special partnership on the field.
“Before the match, I told Gavi to stay close to me. I knew that we could do good things together,” Lewandowski said.
