Raphinha Shares Thoughts Ahead of Manchester United Match and Adapting to New Club
Leeds United winger Raphinha has opened up about his adaptation to the Premier League and how he and his teammates are preparing for their Europa League Round of 32 match against Manchester United.
Speaking about the upcoming match, Raphinha said,
“I expect a tough match. It’s one of the best matches you can play, and I hope it will be a good one. They are a difficult team, and we know we need to win.”
He also praised Manchester United as “one of the best clubs in the world” with “great quality players.”
On his Struggles
Despite admitting to going through an adaptation period at Leeds, Raphinha said he is now in his best momentum so far and happy with his teammates and coaches who teach him every day.
“Private conversations with the coaches are important,” he added. “It is essential to know that your coach and staff trust you. For me, that was very important because I’m at a new club.”
The Brazilian also touched on his role in the team, saying that playing with four midfielders doesn’t impact him, and he tries to shoot from outside the box when he has space. He also spoke about Leeds’ form, saying that the team is ready for the match against Manchester United and the rest of the season, despite natural fatigue during this stage.
On Teammates
On Ansu Fati, Raphinha said that it’s normal if he doesn’t play and that they will try to help him improve and increase his confidence. When asked about the Champions League, he said,
“I think you learn from all matches. It’s natural that players want to compete at the highest level. We have to improve in every game and training session.”
Raphinha ended by saying that he has changed mentally since arriving at Leeds, but physically, he has always been very good.
“It is normal to have some doubts when you arrive at a new club,” he said. “I see myself as better than when I started and hope to continue like this.”
With Raphinha in good form and Leeds eager to progress in the Europa League, their match against Manchester United is sure to be an exciting one.