Marcelo Bielsa, coach of the Uruguayan National Team, has already commented on the possibility of Ronald Araujo playing as a right-back, a position that the Barcelona defender could take on this Tuesday in an attempt to control Brazilian forward Vinicius Jr. once again, now in the context of the South American Qualifiers.
Of course, this situation is not so clear due to the good performance of Nahitan Nández as a full-back in the four-man line presented by La Celeste in the first three matches of the Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.
However, in the press conference during his presentation (May 17th of this year), Bielsa talked about Araujo's virtues and even highlighted his duels against Vinicius himself.
"He has played as a full-back because Xavi (Hernández, Barcelona's manager) has imagined him as the most effective antidote to, I would say, the best winger in the world, and he was not wrong, because Vinicius points him out as the opponent who marked him the best," said the Argentine about the defender and his clashes with the Real Madrid forward.
Bielsa added in his response to the question of whether he could use Araujo in that position: "That speaks of him resolving matches as a full-back facing the best winger in the world and neutralizing him, so the answer is there. Now, what is the position where he is traditionally used? As a center-back, and I think that responds to his positional origin and where he feels most comfortable."
Do you think Ronald #Araujo should play as a right-back against #Brasil? ????
Check out what Marcelo #Bielsa said in his presentation about this possibility, highlighting the defender's duels against Brazilian winger Vinícius Junior! pic.twitter.com/c0UOPLEfNc
October 15, 2023
"So deciding one thing or another... Obviously, he is a player who is used for the most difficult things to solve in the construction of the defensive structure of a match," emphasized the Argentine coach.
Araujo, who was unable to play in the first two matches of the Qualifiers (against Chile and Ecuador) due to injury, started last Thursday against Colombia in Barranquilla as a right-center back (he played the last half-hour as a libero in the three-man line that Bielsa set up after Nández's departure and the entry of Giorgian De Arrascaeta).
The Barcelona player has already played as a full-back for the Uruguayan National Team: first in the last half-hour against Argentina at the Monumental de Núñez on October 10, 2021 with Maestro Óscar Tabárez as coach, and then in the four Qualifiers matches played in 2022 where La Celeste, already with Diego Alonso as coach, defeated Paraguay, Venezuela, Peru, and Chile.
On his part, the player himself stated on AUF TV after the 2-2 draw with Colombia: "When Marcelo sees a player, he not only sees one position but several positions. I don't know what position I will play against Brazil, I am available. Obviously, I feel more comfortable playing as a defender, I believe I can contribute a lot to the team in terms of build-up, covering spaces, long balls, but that will be the decision of the coach, I am here to add."
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