🚨 “Ronald Araujo Really Surprised Me” – Says Frenkie de Jong After Barcelona’s Gritty Night in Dortmund
Despite costly error, midfielder backs teammate’s effort
Frenkie de Jong has come to the defense of Ronald Araujo after the Uruguayan center-back received criticism for his performance in Barcelona’s 3-1 loss to Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League quarterfinal second leg.
Stepping in for the suspended Inigo Martínez, Araujo battled hard in defense but was notably at fault for Dortmund’s third goal after a poor clearance. Despite this, De Jong was quick to praise his teammate’s resilience and work rate.
> “Ronald Araujo really surprised me,” De Jong said post-match. “He stepped up in a difficult game and gave everything for the team. Mistakes happen, but his effort can’t be questioned.”
Araujo’s display was a mix of valiant defending and costly lapses—something that didn’t go unnoticed but was met with support from within the squad as Barcelona advanced on
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