FCBARCELONA.CAT

07.04.2007 22:55

"It was not our night"

Frank Rijkaard was philosophical after watching his FC Barcelona side lose 1-0 against Real Zaragoza in La Romareda and conceded that the home side deserved their victory.

The Dutch coach stated "it was not our night" and that the result "was justified", before reflecting that Víctor Fernández's outfit "played more aggressively than us and they have shown that they were more focussed on winning the game". As for Barça, Rjkaard said that "my players continued battling, but did not always play at the level we wanted. We were just not able to it."

Wake-up call

Diego Milito's winning goal in the second half came as a wake-up call for the visitors. "That did us a lot of harm," Rijkaard continued. "But we tried to find an equaliser, but could not. I do not think it was a question of mentality because the team worked hard."

Playing 3-4-3

Unlike the game between the two sides on the same ground last month in the Copa del Rey, the 3-4-3 system did not bear fruit. "During the first half we did not play well with the 3-4-3," the Blaugrana trainer explained. "When we changed to 4-3-3 after the break we did not have the capacity to change things once they had taken the lead. La Romareda is always a difficult place for us. Throughout the secnd half we tried everything."

Finally, Rijkaard was asked whether he was prepared to accept the blame or whether he felt the players should shoulder the responsibility, he said: "It is easier to say that the coach is to blame as he is a single person."