Ahead of the Champions League opener against Olympique Lyon, FC Barcelona's coach Rijkaard banishes thoughts of past misadventures.



With so much pressure on the shoulders of everyone and everything associated with Barcelona, the Champions League match against Lyon will provide either an escape from those pressures through a spectacular performance, or a further deepening of the disappointment that has so far been heard and felt in the air concerning the Blaugrana's start of the 2007/08 season. Having secured only one win in three La Liga games as well as losing out in the Copa Catalunya, the new season has not started off well, not forgetting that the just ended season is not being remembered on a very bright note for the highly-rated team of Europe. The man in the centre of the storm is the manager himself, Frank Rijkaard, who once again, appeals for understanding, unity, confidence and patience from fans and friends alike:

I get the feeling that both people and the press are still talking about last year. The team is working well and I sense a good dynamic. It is as if people want Barça to lose or draw, and the squad don’t deserve that. Every season there are moments when you have to suffer, and that is when we need our fans more than ever, because if we are united, we are stronger. We need to work on an image of being hard-working and united. It's quite true that since the start of the season, we have not been up to the tasks set before us ,but things will change.

Rijkaard goes on to explain the reasons why Barca obtained draws against Racing Santander in La Liga match day one and against Osasuna in La Liga match day three:

The matches against Osasuna and Santander came straight after a large number of our players had been away on international duty, and that does affect thing. I’m not looking for excuses but these are things that have to be taken into account. Some players have travelled a lot, and that takes away their strength and energy.