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09.04.2008 23:59
Rijkaard expects high level semi final
Vanessa Forns
Frank Rijkaard believes that the Champions League semi final against Manchester United will be played at a very high level after FC Barcelona qualified for the semi finals with victory over Schalke 04.
The Dutch coach was looking forward to the encounter with the Red Devils in the semi final after the Blaugran booked their place with a win on Wednesday evening in Camp Nou, thanks to a single goal from Touré Yaya. "I am glad to have this chance to play the semi finals," Rijkaard said. "Now we have to prepare to play two very big games against a team that is in great form. Barça and Manchester United are two teams that play very good football."
No favourites
Staying on theme of the next round, Rijkaard did not want to talk about which side he feels will be the favourites to go through to the final in Moscow next month. "I have never talked about favourites," he continued. "We are happy to play these two matches and I presume that they are too. Then we shall see what happens. What is clear is that the tie will be played at a very high level."
Reflecting on the win over Schalke, Rijkaard explained that his team had more difficulties than they may have expected, but was pleased with the team's second half performance. "It was a complicated match. Due to the result in the first game they had nothing to lose and looked to cause a surprise," he said. "They have played well and the anxiety has showed in the result and that affected our pay. Little-by-little we have improved and in the second half we were better."
Bojan’s change
After the Barça fans whistled their disagreement with the decision to take Bojan Krkic off, Rijkaard said that he knew it was aimed at him. "I am pleased for Bojan because he had a great game and I am happy that the public sympathised with him," he continued, before airing his feelings on the atmosphere that Giovani Dos Santos walked into when he replaced his young team-mate. "I felt sorry for Giovani. The whistles were for me and I accept them and I know that I have to carry on working," Rijkaard explained. "But it was not good as a kid of 18 years who worked very hard and is a generous player all round."
Laporta relishing United tie
Joan Laporta was clearly pleased with FC Barcelona's qualification for the semi finals of the
Champions League and he called upon the club's fans to "enjoy the moment". The Blaugrana president
praised the team after their hard-earned victory over Schalke 04 in the second leg of the quarter
final encounter on Wednesday. "We are proud of what has been done," he continued. "We have a team
that continued to play through everything and as players continue to come back we are improving
little-by-little."
Looking ahead to the semi final with Manchester United, Laporta said: "We have qualified along with three English teams, that all come from a very strong competition in the Premier League. It will be a complicated, but I am convinced that the fans will enjoy it." Laporta ended by stating that his main challenge at the moment is to "battle against defeatism that seems to want to establish itself in our club and we must now go on an obtain glory in the Champions League."
Looking ahead to the semi final with Manchester United, Laporta said: "We have qualified along with three English teams, that all come from a very strong competition in the Premier League. It will be a complicated, but I am convinced that the fans will enjoy it." Laporta ended by stating that his main challenge at the moment is to "battle against defeatism that seems to want to establish itself in our club and we must now go on an obtain glory in the Champions League."
