FC Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard is confident that his team can beat Atletico and break the negative run of recent years at the Vicente Calderon in Madrid.


Here are Rijkaard´s comments at the official press conference prior to the atletico match:

The team has worked hard all week and has reacted well. We are capable of winning at any ground and against any opponent. This weekend is decisive and it is important we get a good result but that would not mean that the job will be done.

Atletico have always played well against Barça. They have fast players, very quick. But we are confident we can get a decent result. Torres is one of the star players. He has a very strong personality. But we will be going out there keen to do the job and to play flowing football.

In the league teams can slip up in any game. I don’t take any notice of what other teams do.

I enjoy dealing with difficult situations. To say the truth, I don’t like being praised when I am working. It doesn’t help. But, for me, criticism is always going to add to the motivation.

We have to show character and mentality, but intelligence too. We need to work together to get the right result. It has to be a collective effort.