FCBARCELONA.CAT

08.01.2008 14:35

Keen to put Sevilla out

Berta Brau

The day before they meet in the cup, Frank Rijkaard has said that his team is enthusiastic about getting the chance to play a strong side like Sevilla. He is also convinced Edmilson and Henry are ready to shine.

Frank Rijkaard was speaking after the last training session before the team heads south, and commented that “I think it’s good that we get to play Sevilla because they are a strong side and we’d like to knock them out”. He also feels they “are confident enough we can do it”.

Different kind of game

But despite such self-assuredness, Frank Rijkaard does not feel the win against Sevilla at the Camp Nou should be taken as a reference because “we are playing away and that makes it different, but I think we’re able to get a good result, especially because we like playing against strong teams”.
He then emphatically added that “I wouldn’t accept a draw because we want to win and you can only say a draw is a good result once a game is over.”

Naming names

Two players on whom a lot of the attention is going to be focussed are José Edmílson and Thierry Henry. “I think Edmílson is ready, he has played with the group and is ready to help out” said the Barça manager, before saying that the French international “is a player that when he is on form can make all the difference, he’s getting better every day and I hope things stay that way.”

He also commented on the injured Ronaldinho and Deco, saying “they are carrying injuries and so I decided it would be better for them to continue with their treatment programmes”.

Permission for Eto’o

Doubts have arisen as to whether Eto’o will be able to put off the moment when he has to join the Cameroon squad to start preparing for the African Nations Cup. Rijkaard explained that “the club has a permit from the Cameroonian federation that authorises Samuel Eto’o to join his team late.” This permit means that the Barça striker will be able to play both in the cup against Sevilla and at the Camp in the league next weekend Nou against Murcia.