The best can be derived from healthy competition, as Samuel Eto'o believes.


As competition for shirts and starting places hots up in FC Barcelona, striker Samuel Eto'o has offered what he thinks is the solution to nay puzzle surrounding who plays and for how long. The Cameroonian, who is keen to win the top goal scorers award as much as strikers Thierry Henry and Ronaldinho with Lionel Messi, believes that if each player gives his best at any time he plays, then the issue of how long a person plays will not necessarily matter so long as the best of each person is good enough and regular enough to secure both victory for Barca and regular appearances for all the players. Eto'o says:

I recognise that all players are egotistical, thinking of how best to impress and how to contribute everytime to overall success. We always want to play. But we also know that the coach is always looking to do what is best for the team and he always tries to make the best decision. If some days I am on the bench then I will accept that. The worst thing would be if I was happy with that. What we all have to do is give everything we have in every game. Then the coach will be able to choose from a squad where everyone is 100 per cent ready and the level will never drop.

Young strikers Bojan Krkic and Giovanni Dos Santos are also factors to be reckoned with in the Barca attack.

There is also stiff competition in Barcelona at the defence line, where the likes of Carles Puyol, Lilian Thuram, Eric Abidal, Zambrotta, Rafa Marquez, Gabriel Milito and defence-minded Toure Yaya are all up for regular playing time.