🚨 Andoni Iraola on Ronald Araújo winning Premier League Player of the Week: 🎙️ Interviewer: “Ronald Araújo has been named Premier League Player of the Week. He arrived from Barcelona on loan, but Liverpool fans already seem desperate to see him stay permanently. What do you make of his performances? Andoni Iraola: “First of all, I am very happy for him. I told Ronald this morning, ‘Enjoy this award, because you have earned it. But tomorrow, you come back to training and fight for your place again!’ “That is the thing about Ronald. He can win an individual award, everybody can praise him, and he will still be the first player ready to put his body on the line in the next training session. He tackles, he competes, he fights for every ball, and when the team needs someone to stand up, he does not hide” “People see the tackles and the incredible defensive performances, but I also see the desire behind them. He came from Barcelona, arrived in a new country, joined a club with enormous expectations, and had to adapt to a different league, different teammates and a different style of football. He has embraced the challenge with a fantastic attitude” “And let me tell you something funny. His English is still a work in progress! Sometimes I give him an instruction and I can see him concentrating very hard, trying to make sure he understands every word. But he is learning, he is improving, and he is never afraid to ask questions. We will get there. The important thing is that football speaks a language everybody understands, and Ronald is speaking it beautifully on the pitch” “I also think the supporters have recognised something important about him. They do not love him only because he makes tackles. They love him because he plays with his heart. When he makes a mistake, he fights to recover. When an opponent tries to get past him, he makes life difficult. When the team is under pressure, he wants the responsibility. “After he won the award, I told him, ‘Ronald, you can hear the supporters singing your name, but remember why they sing it. They see a player who respects the shirt, respects his teammates and gives everything for the people in the stands. Never lose that part of yourself.’ “Is he enjoying life here? Absolutely. You can see it in his personality, in the dressing room and in the way he celebrates with his teammates. He is happy, he feels welcomed, and he is becoming more comfortable every week” “Now, I know what the supporters are asking me already. They want him permanently! Every time he produces another big performance, somebody is asking what we are going to do about his future” “But Ronald is on loan from Barcelona, and there are decisions that must be made by the clubs and the player. I will not promise something that is not in my hands. What I can say is that we are enjoying having him here, and he is giving us many reasons to appreciate him” “Who knows what the future holds? Football can change very quickly. But if you ask me what I want from Ronald right now, it is simple: keep working, keep learning, keep defending like your life depends on it, and keep making these supporters happy.” Interviewer: “So you understand why Liverpool fans already want him to stay permanently? Andoni Iraola: “Of course! When a defender wins the ball, makes a huge tackle and celebrates like he has just scored a winning goal, supporters notice that. They want players who feel the game, not players who simply pass through a club” “Ronald has only been here on loan, but he is already giving people reasons to dream about a future together. Winning Player of the Week is a wonderful achievement, but the biggest compliment is hearing the supporters say, ‘We want him to stay.’ “I cannot promise them what will happen next summer. But I can promise you this: as long as Ronald Araújo wears our shirt, he will have a coach who appreciates his courage, teammates who respect his commitment”

🚨 José Mourinho on Kylian Mbappé losing the 2026 Ballon d’Or to Harry Kane: 🎙️ Interviewer: “José, do you think Kylian Mbappé was robbed of the Ballon d’Or? José Mourinho: “Robbed? I will let the people decide that. But tell me something: what more was Kylian supposed to do? He finished as the World Cup’s top scorer, the Champions League’s top scorer, and La Liga’s top scorer. Three enormous stages. Goals, pressure, responsibility. And at the end of the night, he sat there watching somebody else lift the biggest individual award in football. Not one trophy for him. Not one reward that reflected the season he had. What message does that send? “Let me be clear: Harry Kane is a fantastic striker. I respect him. But does he deserve this Ballon d’Or MORE than Mbappé? For me, no. And I know that will upset people, because football has become a place where you are not allowed to question an award without somebody accusing you of disrespect” “But awards must mean something! If a player dominates the scoring charts in the biggest competitions and still cannot convince the voters, then what exactly are we rewarding? Popularity? A beautiful story? Who people feel deserves a moment? Because if statistics, consistency and decisive performances are no longer enough, then stop pretending this award is purely about football” “The saddest part is that the Ballon d’Or is losing its importance. Fans used to argue about it for months because they believed it represented the highest standard in the game. Now, when the winner is announced, people argue about whether the award itself can still be trusted. That should frighten the organisers” “And spare me the idea that Mbappé should simply smile, clap and pretend it does not hurt. He is human. He watched a season of extraordinary achievements end without the recognition many believed he had earned. You can respect Harry Kane and still believe Mbappé deserved it more” “When the player who tops the scoring charts in the World Cup, Champions League and La Liga walks away empty-handed, you cannot blame people for questioning the entire system. If that is not enough, then tell us what is. Because right now, the biggest question is not why Mbappé lost. It is whether the Ballon d’Or still means what it used to mean.” Interviewer: “So you believe Mbappé deserved it over Kane? José Mourinho: “Yes. And people can disagree with me. That is football. But answer me honestly: if you were Mbappé, after that season, would you believe the award was decided on football alone?”