FCBARCELONA.CAT

08.02.2008 14:27

Key game for Rijkaard

Jordi Clos

Frank Rijkaard does not feel that the absence of so many players is a major problem and feels Barça can get the win they need at the Sánchez Pizjuán. Neither is he too worried by the lack of goals of late.

No fewer than nine players are unavailable for Saturday’s important match in Andalusia, but this does not seem to overly concern Frank Rijkaard, who is confident the team can get the three points against the winners of the last two UEFA Cups. Speaking before the Sánchez Pizjuán clash, he said “we have a few missing players and it’s not the best of times for that, it’s a shame, but that should just provide extra motivation”.

Crunch encounter

“It is a key game. We have to get the job done, and that means playing well with the right mentality and character”, said Rijkaard, who kept his cards close to his chest regarding tactics, and went on to say that “a good result would strengthen the team’s psychology." On Sevilla he said “we have to be careful with their qualities” and pointed out that whoever plays on the left will have to make a special effort to control Daniel Alves.

Going for goal

It has been up front that the Barça machine has been stalling late. Said Frank Rijkaard, “we have to attack quickly, without giving the opposition time to get organised. We should not worry about the chances we are missing, the important thing is to create them.” There is no getting away from the fact that the team is missing Eto’o, whose country has made it into the African final, while on Ronaldinho, the Dutchman said “he is getting better and has to keep working to find the kind of form that can make a difference. He has to start playing more minutes”.

Doubts at the back

Meanwhile, the defence has been hit badly by injury woes. Rijkaard announced that Oleguer has a good chance of making the team, and that “that has to be his objective ... whenever he has played, he has given the best of himself”. Regarding Márquez, he said “he has just returned from another continent and needs time to recover. He might help the team from the start, or I might send him on later”.