Despite enjoying tremendous success in his first three seasons at Camp Nou, Rijkaard's tenure with Barcelona ended on a sour note after two barren seasons.
Nonetheless, Rijkaard stated that, although his success waned over time, he was always committed to his job.
"I endeavoured to make things work," he told the official club magazine.
"These five years have been very intense. You could compare it with when you get on one of those really fast trains: one day you look back and you’re amazed at the way time has flown."
Nonetheless, he denied that he was overwhelmed by the pressure of the job.
"In Holland some things are the same as at Barça," he explained. "I’ve understood the pressure of the surroundings since I was a youth player at Ajax. In Amsterdam we used the same expression. Surroundings? It means what happens outside the club and can affect the team. The surroundings here were no surprise to me."
Still, Barcelona and Spain are a special case for any manager, as he outlined.
"English football and our football are not at all similar," continued the former Oranje ace.
"Here we have elections and chairmen bring their own staffs, while at a club like Manchester United there is just one owner and it works like a company. It might change, but everything stays the same. And that doesn’t happen at Barça. Here every so often the organization, the structure, and even the philosophy changes, which is almost like going back to square one. Ferguson can spend years in charge of the team: that isn’t very likely here."
With that in mind, then, stabilising influences may come in the form of players.
"Coaches can say as much as they want, but without the team nothing works. I’d take Puyol," enthused Rijkaard. "He’s the captain and stands for the spirit of the team and generosity.
"And I’d also like to mention Ronaldinho. He’s been crucial in getting people excited again and making them happy. He’s been really important. Barça’s won and lost with him. But without Ronaldinho we wouldn’t have won more than before."
Ronaldinho To Miss Barça Last Fixture
Barca set Ronaldinho price
Messi wants Ronaldinho stay
Monday, June 23, 2008
Balboa: Madrid Can Facilitate My Exit
The Equatorial Guinea international was a member of Madrid's first team squad of 25 last summer but scarcely got a sniff of first team action.
As such he's eager to move on this summer, and Benfica have emerged as his most likely destination.
Reports yesterday rumoured that the ex-Racing Santander man was amenable to contact with the Portuguese side, and today he confirmed it.
Speaking to A Bola he said, "I think that Real Madrid can facilitate my exit," adding that Benfica are "a great team."
His own aim is "to play more regularly during the upcoming campaign," but Spain and Portugal are his chosen destinations.
"I do not want to play in Greece," he said of his being linked with Panathinaikos. "I prefer to join Benfica or stay in Spain."
Calderón: Sergio Ramos Is Staying
Javi García: I Won’t Leave Madrid Again
Di Stefano: Spain Can Do It
Pirlo rejected Milan exit
As such he's eager to move on this summer, and Benfica have emerged as his most likely destination.
Reports yesterday rumoured that the ex-Racing Santander man was amenable to contact with the Portuguese side, and today he confirmed it.
Speaking to A Bola he said, "I think that Real Madrid can facilitate my exit," adding that Benfica are "a great team."
His own aim is "to play more regularly during the upcoming campaign," but Spain and Portugal are his chosen destinations.
"I do not want to play in Greece," he said of his being linked with Panathinaikos. "I prefer to join Benfica or stay in Spain."
Calderón: Sergio Ramos Is Staying
Javi García: I Won’t Leave Madrid Again
Di Stefano: Spain Can Do It
Pirlo rejected Milan exit
Maniche To Stay At Atletico?
The Portuguese international has fallen out of favour under coach Javier Aguirre, having spent the second half of the season on loan at Inter Milan in search of regular first-team action.
Maniche has said that it will be almost impossible for him to stay at the club as long as the Mexican coach is masterminding Los Colchoneros.
But the Atletico Madrid president has explained that the former Porto midfielder will feature in the club's squad for the 2008/2009 season if no interesting offer arrives in the summer.
"Maniche and [Jose Antonio] Reyes are players of Atletico Madrid and they are in the same situation as the rest of the squad," Cerezo said. "The day an offer for them to leave the club arrives, we will see, but for now they are players of the club."
And Maniche, who was left out of Luiz Felipe Scolari's plans for Euro 2008, has been tipped for a return to Portugal, with Sporting understood to be interested in his capture.
Meanwhile, Cerezo ensured that there will be some surprises in Atletico Madrid's summer reinforcements, saying: "I believe Atletico will make very good signings."
Ujfalusi not England bound
Aguirre Spurns Mexico’s Advances To Stay At Atlético
Messi wants Ronaldinho stay
Aguirre Well Supported For Run-In
Ujfalusi not England bound
Aguirre Spurns Mexico’s Advances To Stay At Atlético
Messi wants Ronaldinho stay
Aguirre Well Supported For Run-In
Maniche has said that it will be almost impossible for him to stay at the club as long as the Mexican coach is masterminding Los Colchoneros.
But the Atletico Madrid president has explained that the former Porto midfielder will feature in the club's squad for the 2008/2009 season if no interesting offer arrives in the summer.
"Maniche and [Jose Antonio] Reyes are players of Atletico Madrid and they are in the same situation as the rest of the squad," Cerezo said. "The day an offer for them to leave the club arrives, we will see, but for now they are players of the club."
And Maniche, who was left out of Luiz Felipe Scolari's plans for Euro 2008, has been tipped for a return to Portugal, with Sporting understood to be interested in his capture.
Meanwhile, Cerezo ensured that there will be some surprises in Atletico Madrid's summer reinforcements, saying: "I believe Atletico will make very good signings."
Ujfalusi not England bound
Aguirre Spurns Mexico’s Advances To Stay At Atlético
Messi wants Ronaldinho stay
Aguirre Well Supported For Run-In
Ujfalusi not England bound
Aguirre Spurns Mexico’s Advances To Stay At Atlético
Messi wants Ronaldinho stay
Aguirre Well Supported For Run-In
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Getafe To Bid For River Starlet
Spanish sports daily Marca claims that new manager Toni Muñoz is impressed by the 22-year-old Argentine, who is one of the most promising players in his domestic league.
Having broken through to the River Plate lineup in the 2005/06 campaign, he has since made 56 league appearances for Los Millonairos, netting three times in the process.
The Pergamino-born player, who can operate as an attacking midfielder, on either flank, or as a forward, made his debut for the International side earlier this year.
Getafe will look to secure Italian citizenship for the midfielder, who has also been tracked by Benfica, Sporting Lisbon and Arsenal. A transfer fee of around €4m is said to be enough for 'El Negro'.
Juve eye Asian starlet
González Praises Getafe
Hammers close on Juve starlet
Having broken through to the River Plate lineup in the 2005/06 campaign, he has since made 56 league appearances for Los Millonairos, netting three times in the process.
The Pergamino-born player, who can operate as an attacking midfielder, on either flank, or as a forward, made his debut for the International side earlier this year.
Getafe will look to secure Italian citizenship for the midfielder, who has also been tracked by Benfica, Sporting Lisbon and Arsenal. A transfer fee of around €4m is said to be enough for 'El Negro'.
Juve eye Asian starlet
González Praises Getafe
Hammers close on Juve starlet
Villa Glad To Make History
The Valencia forward told Marca, "We suffered greatly, but in the end we're all happy. We've done much for history."
The striker added that he had spoken briefly with the king of Spain, who had been present at the match.
"He said he was very happy and wanted to come back to see us win again," added El Guaje.
"Let's see if we can do that for Spain - eliminate Russia and head to the finals."
Despite stating that Italy were a strong side, he went on to say that Spain were "superior".
Pirlo rejected Milan exit
Robinho: I’m Not Leaving Madrid
Happy Ramos flattered
Palops Hopes For Double Seville Victory
The striker added that he had spoken briefly with the king of Spain, who had been present at the match.
"He said he was very happy and wanted to come back to see us win again," added El Guaje.
"Let's see if we can do that for Spain - eliminate Russia and head to the finals."
Despite stating that Italy were a strong side, he went on to say that Spain were "superior".
Pirlo rejected Milan exit
Robinho: I’m Not Leaving Madrid
Happy Ramos flattered
Palops Hopes For Double Seville Victory
Torres: Let's Enjoy The Win
The Liverpool striker told Marca, "I'm enjoying this victory.
"I think we all must look back at the harder moments to realise how important this is.
"This is the most beautiful time I've ever experienced with the Spanish team."
Indeed, history was overcome for Torres, who added that "this is a job that's been on the cards for a long time.
"The shoot-out? I was confident in Iker. What's more, we reherarsed shoot-outs yesterday in training and it seems to have worked."
Fernando was substituted before the penalties began, though, to his considerable regret.
"I'd have liked to have taken a spot-kick because I always want to support the team," he added.
"Russia (semi-final opponents)? They've proven to be a high level side and they will compete."
Villa Agent Meets With English Clubs - Report
Rangers Announce Liverpool Clash
Atltico Success Thrills Torres
"I think we all must look back at the harder moments to realise how important this is.
"This is the most beautiful time I've ever experienced with the Spanish team."
Indeed, history was overcome for Torres, who added that "this is a job that's been on the cards for a long time.
"The shoot-out? I was confident in Iker. What's more, we reherarsed shoot-outs yesterday in training and it seems to have worked."
Fernando was substituted before the penalties began, though, to his considerable regret.
"I'd have liked to have taken a spot-kick because I always want to support the team," he added.
"Russia (semi-final opponents)? They've proven to be a high level side and they will compete."
Villa Agent Meets With English Clubs - Report
Rangers Announce Liverpool Clash
Atltico Success Thrills Torres
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Barcelona Chase Gomis
According to El Mundo Deportivo, the Catalan club have identified the French hit-man as their prime target for the up front area of the team in case negotiations for the Arsenal star meet an impasse.
Gomis, 22, is dubbed the 'new Didier Drogba' and his performances for Les Verts last season earned him a place in Raymond Domenech's plans for Euro 2008.
His explosive season with Saint-Étienne, in which he scored a total of 16 goals, has attracted interest from several clubs across Europe, with Premier League outfits Liverpool, Arsenal and Newcastle all thought to be in the race for his signature.
The French international, who scored a brace in his official debut for Les Bleus, recently signed a deal with Saint-Étienne that will keep him at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard until 2012.
Gomis has reiterated his wish to represent Saint-Étienne at least one more season, but with Barça lining up a €20 million offer for his services, the 22-year-old may well move to Catalonia in the summer.
Hammers join striker chase
Juve continue Alonso chase
Rennes Look To Sinama-Pongolle
Gomis, 22, is dubbed the 'new Didier Drogba' and his performances for Les Verts last season earned him a place in Raymond Domenech's plans for Euro 2008.
His explosive season with Saint-Étienne, in which he scored a total of 16 goals, has attracted interest from several clubs across Europe, with Premier League outfits Liverpool, Arsenal and Newcastle all thought to be in the race for his signature.
The French international, who scored a brace in his official debut for Les Bleus, recently signed a deal with Saint-Étienne that will keep him at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard until 2012.
Gomis has reiterated his wish to represent Saint-Étienne at least one more season, but with Barça lining up a €20 million offer for his services, the 22-year-old may well move to Catalonia in the summer.
Hammers join striker chase
Juve continue Alonso chase
Rennes Look To Sinama-Pongolle
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