FCBARCELONA.CAT

13.01.2007 13:17

Rijkaard wants defeat to be a warning

Frank Rijkaard believes that FC Barcelona must heed the warning from the game against RCD Espanyol in the remainder of the season to remind them not to make the same mistakes.

After tasting defeat for only the second time this season in the 3-1 defeat in Montjuïc on Saturday evening, the Dutchman made no effort to conceal his disappointment. "This defeat has come early for us and we have to use it to learn from in the games that are coming up," he said. "We have to bounce back now as soon as possible and continue to work hard. The team must remain confident and looked ahead if they want to improve."

Derby defeat is always tough

As well as admitted that his players had "not fulfilled their expectations", the Barça coach stated that losing the derby encounter was "not the end of the world". Rijkaard explained: "I have seen a number of other big teams lose in this stadium. BUt having said that, losing a derby game, not matter what happens, is always difficult."

Match analysis

"The game was spectacular, agressive, open and there were plenty of chances at either end," Rijkaard continued, before pinpointing reasons why he believed his side had lost. "We lost possession too much. When we equalised they were also able to hurt us a lot on the counter-attack."

"We have to continue working"

As always, Rijkaard believes that after being beaten the only way to respond is "to continue to work hard every day". Following the game against Espanyol he added: "We will have to take a long, hard look at the mistakes that we made. Espanyol were very well organised at the back and they broke forward very quickly against us."