Raphinha: Fans Criticize Me Because Expectations Are High, I Hope to Deliver Better Performances

Raphinha said he understands that he has received a lot of criticism, and that fans criticize him because they have high expectations of him.

In an interview with TNT Sports, Raphinha said: “The Brazil team has had many new players arrive. Good, a new cycle has begun.”

Raphinha was then asked how he views the criticism he received regarding his performances at the World Cup.

“These criticisms will hurt you to some extent, but we have to be prepared. Fans criticize people from whom they expect results, so if they are criticizing me, it means they have expectations for me. Over the past two years, I have not been able to deliver the good results they expected. Every time I put on the national team shirt, I try my best to do well, but football is about results. I want to achieve the same things I have at Barcelona: goals, assists, wins, and championships, but when that does not happen, fans put pressure on you. Some criticism is too exaggerated, and I do not agree with it, but everyone has their own way. Some people are more extreme, some people have no limits, and in the end they put football aside and start attacking private life. But everyone wants to express themselves in their own way.”

Although admitting that he feels unhappy about the situation, the 29-year-old player has never thought about asking not to be selected again: “Whenever I have the opportunity to wear the national team shirt, I will try to be in my best form. As long as we win, confidence will gradually return, and matches will become easier. I feel sad that I did not show my best performance at the World Cup. I only played almost one and a half matches. I know I could have performed much better than I did in that one and a half matches. My wish has always been to deliver my best performances and contribute as much as possible. My performances at Barcelona show what I can bring to the national team.”