Reds' New Backline Impresses in Pre-Season

The new-look Reds backline has wasted no time making an impression.

Summer arrivals Jeremy Jacquet and Ronaldo Araujo both featured in Sunday’s pre-season win over Como, offering an early glimpse of a partnership still in its infancy but already showing bite and purpose.

Jacquet started the game and immediately set the tone. He finished his 45-minute stint with more tackles than any other player on the pitch (three) and shared the lead for most duels contested, winning seven before making way at half-time. For a defender easing back into action after a long spell out, it was a demanding shift — and it showed.

“He came out of it a bit tired, but it's absolutely normal when you're playing your first 45 minutes after such a long time. Now it's down to him to recover,” came the assessment, underlining both encouragement and expectation.

Araujo stepped in for the second half and picked up the baton. On his home debut, the Uruguayan won five of his seven duels and recorded the second-highest tackle count with two, backing up the numbers with a composed, physical display that suggested he will not need long to settle.

The early verdict was positive. “It's a start, a good start so hopefully he can crack on,” was the message. The emphasis quickly shifted to what comes next: repetition, rhythm, and the slow, often messy process of building chemistry at the heart of a defence.

“[You build relationships] by playing games. I won't say it's the only way, but games are totally different than training,” came the explanation. Training drills can only simulate so much. Real understanding is forged when the tempo rises, when mistakes have consequences, when you have to read not just the ball but the man beside you.

Communication remains a work in progress. “Jeremy's English is, I would say, a bit better than Ronald's but at the end of the day we are all pretty good footballers. We can see and smell some moments on how to defend certain situations.”

That instinct helps, but it is not enough on its own. The message was clear: talent and anticipation give you a platform; connection turns a backline into a unit.

“It's pretty clear that you need to form a connection together and that takes a bit of time. In my opinion that's absolutely normal but hopefully we can get that going as quickly as possible.”

For now, the signs are promising. One new defender setting the standard in the first half, another reinforcing it in the second. The real question is how quickly these early flashes harden into a reliable partnership once the friendlies end and the real pressure begins.