"You don't think like that, you're on the wrong team" - Raphinha says players at Barcelona should always think about winning everything
Barcelona winger Raphinha has urged his teammates to adopt a winning mentality to contend for trophies in the 2024-25 season. The 28-year-old stated that the club is a place for players with a hunger for victories.
La Blaugrana began the season with a rich vein of form. They won their first seven league games of the season and lost just once in 12 outings including a 4-0 thumping of rivals Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu.
However, Hansi Flick's side seems to have taken their foot off the pedal in recent weeks. They have managed just one win in their last six league matches and lost 1-0 to Leganes in their last match.
Raphinha, meanwhile, has been arguably Barcelona's best player so far. The Brazilian is having his best season since joining the club in 2022 from Leeds United and has recorded 17 goals and 10 assists in 24 games across competitions. He has also formed a formidable attacking trio partnership with Robert Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal under Flick's setup.
Speaking recently to Movistar Futbol, Raphinha called on his colleagues to adopt a winner mentality. He said (via Reshad Rahman on X):
"If you play for Barça you have to think about winning everything. If you don't think like that, you're on the wrong team."
Barcelona will look to return to winning ways and give their fans something to cheer about when they next play Atletico Madrid in the league on Saturday, December 21. They are atop the standings with 38 points after 18 matches, the same number of points as Diego Simeone's side, and are one point ahead of rivals Real Madrid who have both played a game less.
How have Barcelona fared across competitions this season?
Barcelona started the season like a house on fire under Hansi Flick. La Blaugrana won their first seven league matches of the season, recording the club's second-ever best start to the season.
They were on course to match the record of eight straight wins at the start of a season set by Tata Martino's side during the 2013-14 season, before a shocking 4-2 loss to Osasuna.
Flick's side bounced back from the Osasuna loss, winning four games on the trot, but have struggled to win games since then. They lost to Real Sociedad (1-0), Las Palmas (2-1) and Leganes (1-0) and were held to draws by Celta Vigo (2-2) and Real Sociedad (2-2).
However, the Catalan club have been consistent in the UEFA Champions League, winning five of their six continental games.