Koeman had a difficult day with his defense on Thursday against Getafe. In addition to the episode known with Mingueza, the Dutchman also gave a wake-up call to the Uruguayan Ronald Araújo, who made an absurd penalty to Unal, yellow included, which meant 3-2 and complicated the victory of Barça. Araújo made up for his mistake with a header goal, 4-2, in a good photo of what is being part of his season. Lime and sand in the middle of a learning process.
The penalty was not the first concentration error Araújo has made this season. Against Eibar, on the sixteenth matchday of the League, a serious error in the exit of the ball cost Barça a draw that they still regret. The Uruguayan came out to show his face in the flash interview and pleaded guilty with the defeat.
Logical youth mistakes in a player of just 22 years who this season has had his first continuous contact with the elite and who has also had to overcome a couple of injuries that have taken away some continuity. His muscle injury in the game against Juventus in Turin, where he played despite being touched, was joined by an ankle injury in the game against Betis at its best of the season. Then, he relapsed in Seville in another outstanding episode with Koeman, who replaced him minutes after making him go out on the field because the footballer could not. Araújo responded by kicking a chair when he left the field, but the truth is that then he did not play for another three weeks. Araújo had played a spectacular month of January and since that injury he has not recovered his best level at a time when his presence could be decisive due to the precarious physical condition of Gerard Piqué.
“He hasn't had his best game, like Oscar,” Koeman acknowledged after the game. The Dutchman has faith in Araújo, who has shown spectacular physical conditions and great ability to improve with and without the ball, but he is aware that he has to be on top so that he does not relax. Araújo is in a few decisive months to settle into the elite and, perhaps, so much sugar for some month did not suit him at all. A wake-up call in time, Koeman will think, is a win.