Rijkaard: I will not quit

2008-04-30 08:19

Manchester - Frank Rijkaard insisted he would not quit as Barcelona coach after a 1-0 defeat by Manchester United left the Catalan club facing the prospect of another season without any silverware.

Paul Scholes's 14th-minute strike ensured the Champions League campaign of a squad that can afford to leave Thierry Henry on the substitutes' bench came to an end at the semi-final stage with United advancing to an all-English final against Chelsea or Liverpool.

Rijkaard's removal from the hot seat at the Nou Camp is now regarded as inevitable in Catalonia, but the Dutchman made it clear he would not be going of his own accord.

"That thought has not entered my head," he insisted. "I have no intention of leaving. The club need help and support. We all need to stick together.

"It would be a different case if the players were saying it was time to go but that is not the case. Barcelona are a massive club and there are people to take the decisions at the end of the season if decisions need to be taken."

Rijkaard admitted his side's lack of a cutting edge over the two legs of their contest with United had cost them dear.

"We did everything but score," he said. "It was a very even game, if anything we had the better of the play. But the rules are that the team that scores goes through and they did that."

Rijkaard added: "It is a tough defeat to take and it is hard to stomach. The Champions League is very important and it is over for us now. But after this game can walk away with our heads held high."

- AFP