Rafinha’s Heavy Demands: Why Barça’s Stars Weigh on Him and Fuel His Fire

Match Context and Rafinha's Return

Brazilian winger Rafinha celebrated Barcelona's 3-1 victory over Deportivo Alavés on Saturday in La Liga at the Blaugrana's home ground Spotify Camp Nou.

He said it did not matter whether he assisted the first goal; what mattered was that Lamine Yamal found the net. Rafinha said he always tries to give his best and was happy to return to the starting lineup to help the team.

He is still on the path to full match fitness after his injury, adding that he is trying to reach the best version of himself physically. He is not yet able to play 90 minutes, but he gives everything in the minutes he plays and felt some fatigue in the second half, yet expects to improve gradually.

He explained his defensive duties in Flick's system, saying high pressing is a core part of his role. He said the best way to defend starts from the attack and the press helps defenders by forcing the opponent to lose the ball in difficult moments. Sometimes he presses instinctively, simply running to recover the ball quickly.

Rafinha noted that his relationship with teammates is built on two things: enthusiasm and a constant push for improvement. He likes to urge players to do more, which can make him feel heavy at times, but after the match they hug in the locker room and celebrate. They know they can perform better.

He closed by reiterating the coach's view that the team is not yet at its best. He agreed that they are not at their peak, but winning today was the priority; there is time to fix mistakes. They will win sometimes when playing well, and if they must win while playing poorly, that s also acceptable.

Fitness, Defense and Team Spirit

Rafinha spoke about his ongoing rehabilitation and the team's pressing approach, stressing that staying disciplined and hungry for more from every teammate remains essential.

Punchline 1: If hard work counted as a stat, Rafinha would lead the charts and still have energy for the post-match interview.

Punchline 2: Barca's press is so intense that even the ball asks for a timeout, but the scoreboard keeps pushing forward anyway.