Frank Rijkaard has been accused of being a lame duck coach, lacking tactical awareness and being soft on his players following Barcelona’s 1-0 home defeat by arch-rivals and league leaders Real Madrid on Sunday.
The result ended Barca’s 100 percent home record this season, and left the Catalans seven points behind the leaders in second place.
While not a heavy defeat, Sunday’s showdown seemed to highlight the contrasting fortunes of the side in a number of areas.
Tactically Bernd Schuster won the battle against Rijkaard. Real closed down their opponents all over the pitch, stifling their creativity, and leaving them little room to work their trademark, quick passing moves.
Rijkaard’s questionable decision to field Ronaldinho, short on confidence and fitness, and Deco, just returned from injury, backfired when teenage forward Bojan Krkic and Eidur Gudjohnsen have both impressed in recent games.
Schuster’s decision to field Julio Baptista instead of playmaker Guti in midfield paid dividends as the super-motivated former Arsenal man scored the game’s only goal.
Throughout 2007 Barca have appeared unable to string together the consistency necessary to win a major trophy, and Rijkaard’s mild attempts to get tough with the players look little more than a cosmetic papering over of the cracks.
But are these criticisms valid?
Barca are second in the table and cruised through their Champions League group to make the last 16. They are favourites to see off Celtic, and therefore make the quarter-finals.
They are still in the King’s Cup and have only lost three games in all competitions this season. Ronaldinho is Barca’s second highest scorer in the league and is only 27.
Are we all jumping the gun, or is it time for Barca president Joan Laporta to ring the changes before Real run away with everything?
PHOTO: Frank Rijkaard gestures to his players in the last minute of their defeat by Real Madrid at the Nou Camp, December 23, 2007. REUTERS/Gustau Nacarino
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8 comments so far
I reckon Rijkaard played Ronaldinho to hang him out to dry knowing that he would be unable to deliver the goods.
- Posted by SimonIf Rijkaard had left him on the bench and Barca had lost he would have taken all the blame for not playing him, this way at least some of the accusing the fingers will be pointing at Ronaldinho. Rijkaard will now be free to play Bojan and Giovani for the rest of the season.
yes!!!!!!!!!!
- Posted by wajREAL MADRID WON !!!!!!!!!
looks like rijkaard should consider the option to sell ronaldinho and deco. they seem to have lost motivation. highly motivated youngsters like dos santos and bojan should be given more chances.
- Posted by European Football BlogI agree with Simon although I also think Rijkaard secretly hoped Ronnie would win the game. Now that he\’s failed, things are pretty clear: Ronaldinho is out.
- Posted by Julien Pretoti’m asking u all guys…Would u dare to bench out Ronaldinho in a classical game against your biggest enemy ????
for sure, NO…. Barca is lose, that’s it… but we dont have to ask, why Rijkaard put Bojan and Eidur on the bench
- Posted by Andy GultomRonaldinho is, Rijkaard is not. Has anyone seen the twin photos of Ronaldinho showing how much weight he hs gained since that 3-0 drubbing of Real at the Nou Camp?
- Posted by Red DevilSchuster did what he needed to do: he put all his men behind the ball and counter-attacked after scoring the first goal.
Barca were the better side before Baptista’s goal and created good chances. Had Barca scored first, it would have been a different story because Real would have needed to create rather than sitting back.
Barca did not play at their best level (Real’s tactics contributed to this), but it is difficult to say that Real were better on the day (except defesively).
Regarding Ronaldinho: had he been benched and Barca lost, the same journalists who are screaming now would have blamed him for not playing Ronnie and Deco.
I remember that Rijkaard played Ronnie and Deco as substitutes in practice matches throughout the week, but journalists were screaming that Ronnie should start rather than Dos Santos…
- Posted by VincentI Think Ronaldinho still the best in the world. altough altely ronie in condition not happy. Must Remember,all the people have playing ugly..
Give him chance it for along time..agree?
- Posted by omarfauzi