FCBARCELONA.CAT

05.03.2007 22:42

Rijkaard: "We will go out to attack”

Frank Rijkaard is aiming to set his FC Barcelona team out to attack when they meet Liverpool in the second leg of the Champions League tie at Anfield on Tuesday evening.

The Dutch coach also revealed that Samuel Eto'o will play and will look to make the difference "with goals, but also by using our intelligence" and that Barça are already aware of how Liverpool will play. According to the Blaugrana boss his side "did not lose the tie in the first game in Camp Nou" two weeks ago.

Eto’o in attack

The presence of Eto'o in the Barcelona team has, once again, provoked a lot of debate in the press conference that Rijkaard held along with Carles Puyol just before the final training session on Tuesday. "He will play," the trainer explained when asked about the Cameroonian striker. He was then questioned on the tactics that he is set to employ, but refused to be drawn in adding only that "we are planning to go out and attack". Reflecting on the games against Real Zaragoza and Sevilla, Rijkaard said: "The last two matches have been interesting for us as we started well in both of them. That has served us well as we will be playing in a similar atmosphere."

No predictions

Looking at the match at Anfield, Rijkaard refused to make any predictions as he stated: "I have left my crystal ball at home." On a more serous note, the Barça coach stated that: "We have a strong enough team to spring a surprise. We know that it will be a difficult game after what happened in Barcelona. But the pressure is off us in the sense that many people think that Liverpool have already won and they now have to prove that in front of their own fans."

Reacting to Rafa Benítez's comments earlier in the afternoon, Rijkaard said that "it is wonderful to play against a coach that already knows everything. That is just a way of hiding the fears that they have. As much as you think you can know what will, happen everyone really knows very little." The Barça boss then had a sly dig at his opposite number as he stated. "When you have seen one Liverpool match you know all there is to know. There is not much to discover."

Goals and intelligence are the keys

Without doubt, one of the best lines that Rijkaard delivered during the press conference came when he said. We have another great chance to show that we are brave when playing in an intense atmosphere where any sportsman would love to perform. We want to play attacking footbal, but we also have to pay attention to the tasks everyone has. There is nothing to lose now."