Ronald Araujo ready to 'give everything' on Sunday

Ronald Araujo has spoken to the press for the first time since Barça's disappointing exit from the Champions League while attending the 19th Relatos Solidarios del Deporte (Solidarity Sports Stories) event at the old Estrella Damm factory. He is the patron of this edition along with his compatriot Cristhian Stuani of Girona, and contributed a foreword to the book. The project raises funds for the Enriqueta Villavecchia Foundations, which works to improve the lives of children with cancer-related illnesses.

Sad, like all Culers

Araujo discussed how "footballers are extremely visible and this is something that needs to be exploited more at events like this ... Football is an important part of my life but there are more important things, and this is one of them."

Naturally, however, the defender was also asked about his team's defeat in the Champions League and especially his red card. "I'm sad" he said. "As all culers are ... The red card was a 50-50 thing. It was a fortuitous incident. If the foul hadn't been given, no worries. But if it was given, then it was a sending off."

Out for revenge

Now it is time to turn the page and think about El Clásico on Sunday, a game the Uruguayan sees as "a chance for important revenge ... We need to change our mentality and get back into the fight for the league title. We need to give everything we've got this Sunday."

As for his future, he says "my new contract is on good course, but we'll sit down for a proper talk once the season has ended ... I am very grateful to the fans. When I got sent off a lot of people were cheering 'Uruguayo' and that was touching. I'm very happy in Barcelona, and so are my family. I always give everything I have, sometimes things work out better than others, but I always try to help the club to grow and get back to being what Barça has always been."