“I would give the 'MVP' to someone else: I didn't play my best game”

Raphinha scored a brace in Barcelona's victory over Real Madrid in the 35th round of La Liga, a 'Clasico' that is interpreted as the definition of the domestic title. The Brazilian was named the 'MVP' of the evening in Montjuic, but, in his express appearance before the press in the mixed zone, he said that he believes he should not have been awarded in this way. He understands that Pedri Gonzalez, Eric Garcia or Lamine Yamal deserved it more.

“I would give the 'MVP' to other players. I didn't play my best game. Pedri, for me, every game should be named 'MVP'. We come to win the games, as we have all season, the important ones and those that are not important for many people. We are doing very well. We knew we had to be calm, if we conceded, to be able to come back,” he commented more generally.

“A lot of goals is difficult to happen in a 'Clasico'. Our way of playing and Madrid's way of playing gives you a lot of goal options. There are players with a lot of quality on the pitch. The important thing is to know how to defend when we have to defend and come away with the points no matter what. Because of the missed chances, maybe the match should have been easier at the end. I think Madrid's third goal complicated the match for us. We were able to defend well and that's the important thing,” he added.

“I could have scored more than two goals. I missed three chances that I can't miss. I have very high standards and I think much more about the ones I've missed than the ones I've scored. I want to always be at my best. When I don't do everything right, I leave with the feeling that I could have done better,” Raphinha said self-critically.