Rijkaard Thread

[Jager]

Frank I feel is a little over his head with Barca. I think he was waiting for Carlo to get fired in Milan, but that never happened, and it won't happen now.

You were so close to winning the league, you can understand the decision.

[lionel]

right, the season wasn't so bad... but the problem is that rijkaard had the 100% responsibility of why we were so close and didn't actually win. I wouldn't see rijkaard as the one who brought barca to the 2nd place, coz barca never were that good this year, they kept going up and down. barca are 2nd just because there were no good teams in la liga this season. not good enough.

[Jager]

Barca is still young though, and he dominated the prior year.

Ronny was off this season for his standards.

Then Eto'o injured.

Hard to judge what is going to happen.

[lionel]

we don't like rijkaard. nothing to do!
maybe he can be good for next year, especially for dos santos and krkic the 2 young starts who are going to be in the senior team, he proved himself to be good at bringing players from youth teams to the senior team( messi ).
but even in that part, wenger is more trustful.
one of rijkard's problems is that he's a coward. and if henry also joins, there will be so much ego in barca, so there's need for a tougher coach.

[lionel]

an interview with rijkaard from the barca site.. very interesting.

FCBarcelona.cat

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Rijkaard: I'm staying

Frank Rijkaard insists he will still be at Barcelona next season despite Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger being linked with a move to the Camp Nou.

Barcelona club president Joan Laporta has given his full backing to Rijkaard despite Barcelona missing out on La Liga title to Real Madrid.

And the Dutchman says he is delighted to have the backing of the board as he looks to build on his four-year stay at Barca, saying: "I'm really excited about continuing.

"When you finish the season you notice the tiredness.

"It's a pity we don't have time to continue and put things right in this league - to react and show that we are a great club."

Rijkaard went on to stress his desire to keep stars such as Ronaldinho and Samuel Eto'o who have both been linked with moves away from the club this summer.

"They're great players," he said. "They're wanted by a great many teams around the world and for good reasons. They're tremendous figures.

"I'd like to continue with them."

Meanwhile, midfielder Deco has defended the commitment of his team-mates saying it was mistakes made on the pitch that cost Barca the title.

"The players are to blame for not having achieved the standards of last year," he told El Mundo Deportivo.

"But now it feels like we are on trial.

"It is easy to say 'This is the players' fault, they have lacked commitment and character', but I don't think this is fair on all of us.

"We lost the title because we made wrong decisions at key moments, tactical mistakes or individual errors. It has nothing to do with commitment."

Source: Skysports

[BlackNess]

o think he will leave
!!!

[Pat Murphy]

Looks like he's here and queer for the forseeable future.

As soon as that Milan post opens up tho I bet he'll be gone in a flash.

[lionel]

why would they open the door for him? rijkaard won't go to a big club, unless they're so stupid.

[Trim]

Frank Rijkaard could be close to extending his contract at FC Barcelona and put paid to any rumours that he could become a target for Chelsea next summer.

The Dutch coach is still fully committed to the cause at Camp Nou and and remains faithful to president Joan Laporta for the faith he has shown in the trainer, according to Catalan daily Sport.

Reports in England suggest that the arrival of Henk ten Cate as assistant manager will pave the way for the Blues to make an approach for Rijkaard, but that now appears unlikely.

Laporta's mandate as president of the Blaugrana ends in 2010 and he wants Rijkaard to extend his current deal by one year to keep him at the club until the same date.

That would see the former AC Milan star remain in charge for seven years, longer than any other coach in the history of the Catalan giants.

Ten Cate also poured cold water on the suggestion that he could team up again with Rijkaard at Stamford Bridge.

"I have no evidence that he wants to come to Chelsea," the man who helped Barça to Champions League glory said in Holland on Tuesday.

Rijkaard has also been tipped as a future coach of AC Milan, but with Marco Van Basten becoming available next summer, the Rossoneri may turn to him instead.

Having taken over in 2003, the current Barça coach has helped to transform the club and feels a great loyalty to Laporta for appointing him and never doubting his position.

During his first months in charge Rijkaard struggled to turn things around and towards the end of last season there were some that thought his era was over.

Despite that, Laporta never flinched in his belief that the Dutchman would succeed again and backed him during the summer.

Goal.com - Barcelona - Rijkaard Ready To Extend Barça Stay

[lionel]

bad news.

despite the good results/performances lately, I don't trust rijkaard and I hope he leaves asap.

I'm not sure he can be good for a team like chelsea, but I think that having ten-cate there says they are thinking of bringing rijkaard, and I beleive rijkaard&cate will be great for chelsea as it was for barca.

[Robinho4Ever]

The best coach available to Barcelona today is J_Murinho !!
A combination between Murinho and Barca can make Barca the best team ever . . .

[lionel]

Originally Posted by Robinho4Ever

The best coach available to Barcelona today is J_Murinho !!
A combination between Murinho and Barca can make Barca the best team ever . . .

very few barca fans would agree to mourinho.
winning titles isn't everything in football.. for the barca fans at least.

Wenger is the man.

[Robinho4Ever]

Wenger ??

I don't believe that he'll leave the project he started at Arsenal . . .

[lionel]

Originally Posted by Robinho4Ever

Wenger ??

I don't believe that he'll leave the project he started at Arsenal . . .

unless he'll bring the project to spain?
nah, just fabregas...