Ronald Araujo Q&A: Villarreal, UCL aims, playing right-back, Liverpool fans and more
Ronald Araujo wants Liverpool to 'give everything from the first minute' in their bid to make it three wins from three in the Champions League against Villarreal.
The Reds welcome the La Liga outfit to Anfield on Tuesday (8pm BST kick-off) in their next fixture of the league phase.
Andoni Iraola's side are aiming to maintain their 100 per cent record in the competition so far this season, after victories over Atletico Madrid and LASK.
Ahead of the match, Araujo sat down to cover a range of subjects and preview the contest with reporters - read what he had to say in his press conference below...
On his first few months at Liverpool...
I'm learning English so I think I'm going to learn a bit quicker than I thought! To be honest, it surprises me because you know how big Liverpool are but when you get here and you see the dimension of this club, the structure, the fans, you know it is a gigantic team. I'm very happy because since I arrived I've been welcomed just as another player. Not just by the people at the club, but also the fans. I'm very grateful to them. I want to give back to them by giving everything in training and in every match.
On how he has found playing as a right-back...
It's not a problem because I'd already played there a few times. When I made the decision to come here, I knew that it was one of the possibilities, to play as a right-back. It's not something so different for me. Ultimately, I always try to give everything I can, whichever position I find myself in. What the manager asks of me, I try to give my very best. I'm not going to deny I feel more comfortable playing as a centre-back, but ultimately at the end of the day it's not a different position for me. Each time I have to play there, I try to give absolutely everything.
On facing Villarreal...
I know Villarreal very well; I've faced them many times. They are a great side and have great players. They are a team that if you give them the ball, they're going to have a lot of possession. I think they are the second team after Barcelona to have the highest level of possession, so that tells you the types of players that they have. But we also have our players, we're playing at home, we're playing at Anfield, we have our identity, our characteristics and we have to give everything from the first minute. We have to impose ourselves on the game. If we do, I think we can come away with a victory, which is the most wonderful thing and that's what we all want.
On how confident he is in the Liverpool squad going far in this season's Champions League...
To be honest, I really do believe that we have a great side. A team with great players in it and great potential. We have players who came a short time ago and they've come in and they've given a great deal. Like myself, I came in recently. The Champions League is a very difficult competition. There are great sides in there. Often sometimes the knockout games are decided by small details. But I believe we can compete for all titles we are in this year - the Premier League and the cup. We have to take it step by step. We know it's a very long season, but I believe we're on the right path. I think we're working really well despite that we have not had great results. I think the team is moving forward and progressing and that's lovely because we know that we have a great team but also we have the potential to continue to grow.
On how he sees his future...
It's very early to talk about these things. I'm just trying to enjoy every day and continue to grow and develop and to play and to give what's required of me, to have that confidence. I'm really happy to be here, my family are also very happy. But it's a bit early to be talking about those things.
On Dominik Szoboszlai's importance to Liverpool...
Dom is a spectacular player. As soon as I arrived here, I saw that quality. I had already seen him on TV, but you understand what type of player he is and what he can give to the team. He's very physical. He's very technical too. He's a really important player for us, for our team, for the way that we play. Right now, we can't have him in the side and I'm sure we'll miss him. But also we have other players who can come in. As I said, we have great quality within our squad. We have players who can come into his place for tomorrow's game - those players that have been out. We have to look forward to the game tomorrow with a lot of joy and excitement.
On how he has found the city of Liverpool and supporters...
To be honest, really, really well. I came from a big side, as is Liverpool. I think people here, it's almost like they are more intense when you go down the street, when you go out to the centre of Liverpool, or when you go out to eat something. But that's lovely. You see how they experience football themselves. I will tell you I am really happy here. My family is very happy and that's also very important. I'm just really hungry to go on this season and give everything, give the best that I can of myself and continue to learn and continue to grow as a player, which is what I always wanted to do. I'm having that game time, those minutes, and that's what I want and then we'll see what happens and what I want for the future.
On Liverpool fans appreciating his style of play and whether he has felt that...
Yes, of course. I'm very grateful. It's a really important aspect to feel loved by the people, by the fans. Ultimately, as I always say, I try to give the very best of myself. I really feel represented by the fans when I go onto the pitch and when I give everything. Sometimes you play well, sometimes you play badly, but that's football. Overall, it's just about giving everything and that's what I will always be doing. I try to do that within every game and I'm very grateful to every single person because it's lovely for a player to go in and be recognised in that way.
On whether it's easier to adjust to the demands of the Premier League as a defender...
Coming to a club like Liverpool is not easy. There are those demands and responsibility. Personally, I'd already experienced that in Barcelona and ultimately that's a huge club where there are huge demands where in every game you need to give your very best. You play well in one game, but you have to come back and do that again. I think that depends on the personality of each player and how they confront that challenge.
Personally, I knew that it was a challenge coming to the Premier League - a new challenge. But from the first moment I arrived, I had no doubts that I had to give everything here. That's how I live it, that's how I experience it. I try to enjoy it. As I said, it's not easy to be in big sides but that's what we came to do and that's the work we have to do.
On learning English to utilise his leadership skills and his impression of the younger players...
I'm studying English. It's important what the manager says [about learning the language] because at the end of the day I can bring things to the team - what I am, what I know. Even if I say it in Spanish, in football there's a universal language, where if you have to shout at someone, you're going to understand it in the same way. I am studying to learn and to continue to grow and develop to assist the group.
And of course, we have wonderful young players. If I could talk about them now I'd be talking about them all the time. In the game I say to Rio [Ngumoha] and Jeremy [Jacquet] 'well done' and 'good' in English. We've got [Lewis] Koumas and other great players. I think they have great quality our young players and they bring a great deal to the team. I'm sure they will bring a great future for this club, which is the most important thing.
