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Rijkaard: Watch out Real
25/02/2008 07:21 - (SA)
Madrid - Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard couldn't hide his delight at his team's 5-1 thrashing of bottom club Levante on Sunday, helped by a second half hat-trick by his Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o.
"There are going to be moments which we can all enjoy and today was one of those. Samuel scored three important goals and we played well," said Barca's Dutch coach, openly pleading for the team's critics to shut up.
He didn't say it in so many words but the implication was clear, Barcelona have now got their second wind and aim to be breathing down the necks of la Liga leaders Real Madrid right the way until the end of the season.
"We are now having a good streak and our objective is to give a good account of ourselves and win as many of the remaining games as we can," added Rijkaard.
Rijkaard was speaking before Real surprisingly crashed 1-0 at home to fellow Madrid side Getafe, which left Barca only two points in arrears of the reigning Spanish champions.
Real Madrid now have 56 points from 25 games, with 13 games still remaining, with Barca on 54 points.
International duty
"We've obviously got to keep working hard and creating opportunities but now we have all the squad in good shape and this is important," he added, reflecting on the first half of the season which saw his side decimated by injuries.
One of the most important was the three-month absence of Eto'o with a severe tendon strain during the first half of the season.
Eto'o has only played in seven league games this season, a tally not helped by him being on international duty for a month at the African Nations Cup.
"He gives us more depth and options," said Rijkaard, paying tribute to the player who got his first league hat-trick for Barca on Sunday.
Despite scoring a stunning 70 league goals in his four years at Barca, and being the top scorer in the Spanish first division two seasons ago, Sunday was the first time Eto'o had scored three in La Liga for the Catalan club.
However, Rijkaard was quick to emphasis that Barca were not a one-man team despite the impact of Eto'o.
His midfield playmaker Xavi Hernandez, who opened the scoring, drew special praise.
"He's an extra-ordinary player. He always seems to be in the right place and he's got the right mental approach. This gives us enormous confidence," commented Rijkaard.
"And (Lionel) Messi had a complete game. He scored one goal and set up two more. His goal came at a very important point."
The Argentine winger, and runner-up in the voting for the 2007 World Player of the Year, put Barca back in front just before the break after a shock equaliser from the penalty spot by Levante's Mustapha Riga and they never looked back.
- AFP
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