'If Any Team Can Do It, It's Us': Raphinha Predicts Comeback For Barcelona In Copa del Rey

Barcelona winger Raphinha has sounded a defiant battle cry as the Catalan giants face the monumental task of overturning a four-goal deficit in the Copa del Rey.

Following a bruising 4-0 defeat against Atlético Madrid at the Metropolitano in the first leg of the semi-finals, many have written off the Blaugrana's chances of defending their domestic cup crown. However, the Brazilian international remains steadfast in his belief that Camp Nou could witness one of the competition's greatest-ever turnarounds.

Speaking during a Q&A session on Barcelona's official YouTube channel, the 2024-25 player of the season insisted that the squad is mentally prepared for the challenge. After the four-goal humiliation in the first leg, they suffered a shock defeat to Girona in La Liga, seeing them temporarily slip behind Real Madrid in La Liga before restoring their pride with a 3-0 win against Levante. A clash against third-placed Villarreal is coming up this weekend, but the Brazilian attacker already has his mind on pulling off a sensational comeback in the cup.

"We are confident about playing a good match. We believe we are capable of doing it. If there is any team capable of a comeback, it will be us. We know the match will be difficult, a very complicated turnaround, but I believe we are prepared for what awaits us," Raphinha stated. His words reflect a dressing room that refuses to surrender despite the daunting mountain they have to climb against Diego Simeone's disciplined side.

(AFP)

A key factor behind Raphinha's optimism is the unity within the camp since Hansi Flick took the reins. The German coach has transformed the team into a cohesive unit that currently sits atop many of the game's metrics, and Raphinha credits this to