FCBARCELONA.CAT

22.08.2007 14:37

Thuram ready to play

Berta Brau

The French defender, who was unable to play for his country against Slovakia due to an ankle injury, has told a press conference that he is feeling much better after Wednesday’s therapy session.

Lilian Thuram worked out in the gym this morning and has said that he is ready to be called upon by Frank Rijkaard, if required. He added that his time on the sidelines has had no negative effects, for it was only a very short period.

To early for evaluations

Thuram was asked how good he thought the Barça team is this year, and replied “Conclusions should be made at the end of the season. We certainly have some top quality players, but a team can only prove its worth by winning, so I hope that we are still a good team at the end of the season.”
He then added that “after a season like the last, it is important for the new players to win things, because it would not be normal for a team like Barcelona to fail to win any titles for two years.”

First eleven important

Thuram thinks it would be a good idea for Rijkaard to stick to a permanent first eleven, “because for a team to be competitive it is important not to keep changing the players”. And if he is not in that eleven, he wouldn’t make a fuss because “the team is more important. Of course we all want to play, but players gain more confidence if they are not being constantly rotated. If I don’t play, I don’t play.”

Internal code

Talk has returned of the idea of an internal code of conduct, and on that matter Thuram said it would be good because “to do things well you need to show respect. This code of conduct shouldn’t be interpreted as a punishment, but a way of doing things right.”