FCBARCELONA.CAT

14.09.2007 17:05

Gudjohnsen: “I’m staying here”

Berta Brau

The Icelandic striker told reporters on Friday that he is ready and willing to help the team. He insisted that he will train as hard as necessary to be available to manager Frank Rijkaard and that he has no intention of going anywhere.

Gudjohnsen made it quite clear at Friday’s press conference that his thoughts are centred exclusively on Barça. He also emphasised that he would not wan to move on before he had demonstrated everything he could offer: “I’m here and I’m staying here. That’s absolutely clear. I’m not thinking about any other team. I only want to think about my future with Barça. I wouldn’t want to leave feeling the way I do now because I’ve always felt that I have never reached my full potential”.

Not at a disadvantage

Gudjohnsen also denied that he is at any disadvantage compared to the other strikers: “The only difference is that I haven’t had the opportunity of training at the same level as the rest but I’ve spoken to the fitness trainer about training harder than the rest and reaching the same degree of fitness. I don’t have any discomfort now and I’m another option for the boss. I have to think about my body and about my fitness and demonstrate what I can do”.

The immediate future

As for the possibility of leaving the Club in the winter transfer window, Gudjohnsen isn’t ruling anything out, but he insisted: “I’m just concentrating on the present, working and training hard to get into good shape again”

Club vs country

Quizzed about the ongoing club vs country row, the Icelandic international urged the need for “ a balanced solution – the coaches, clubs and international managers have to talk more about each player’s particular situation. That would certainly help to avoid some of the problems that have been coming up”.

Club doctors okayed midweek game

Gudjohnsen went on to explain that he’d only played in the Icelandic team’s second international last week – missing out on the Spain game – following an agreement between the Icelandic association’s doctors and the club’s own medical services: “they were all aware of my physical condition and agreed to let me play in the second game. I’m the national team captain and that’s my responsibility, but the most important thing now is that I’m on the road to full recovery”.