FCBARCELONA.CAT

05.06.2007 23:57

Rijkaard pleased with the youngsters

Vanessa Forns

After beating Espanyol to win the Copa Catalunya, Frank Rijkaard has said he was delighted with the way the Barça B regulars performed.

In both tonight’s final and last week’s semi against Nàstic, the bulk of the Barça squad consisted of reserve team players. And speaking after the final, Rijkaard said he was extremely proud of everything the youngsters had achieved. “They all played seriously, worked hard to the end and presented a good image of themselves. I am so happy for them, because I think it was a very important moment.”

Hard work breeds success

The manager accepted that “we were missing players tonight” and that was why he preferred to opt for a very young team. “They must be satisfied to have done their job so well” he said. “But the only way you can be successful is by working hard.”

Third title two games away

After collecting FC Barcelona’s sixth Copa Catalunya crown, thoughts turn back to the league, and Frank Rijkaard now feels “we can win the third title of the season. Burt we will have to work hard to do that, which is exactly what we are doing.” Curiously, the penultimate game of the season will be a rematch with tonight’s opposition, but with the twenty two players on the pitch on Saturday night likely to be almost completely different, the Dutchman knows “it will be a very different game.”