With the absence of Toure Yaya and Samuel Eto'o, Marquez still says there's no cause for alarm.


Rafa Marquez has a big heart and this is when he wants to show it. With injury rocking the Barca squad, though now on a lighter scale due to returning players back from injury, another dimension of loss has come in the form of players committed to their countries as the African players in the first team leave to play for their national teams in the African Cup of Nations starting on January 20, 2008. Toure Yaya has already joined his country mates for the La Cote 'd Ivoire national team, while Samuel Eto'o is fully booked for the Cameroonians. Despite this, Marquez says:

The team should be concerned about winning, about the way it plays, and not think so much about who’s playing and who’s not.

Marquez praised the skills and contribution made by both Toure and Eto'o. Marquez will surely be happy to have them back at Camp Nou as soon as possible. The Mexican believed that Edmilson can fill the gap left by Toure Yaya in linking the midfield. Barca strikers like Thierry Henry and Bojan Krkic will surely play well at any given day, along with the great in-form display from Iniesta and the likes of Giovani dos Santos and Eidur Gudjohnsen.


FC Barcelona's next match is in the Copa del Rey against defending champions Sevilla. The match takes place on January 09. Kick-off time is 22:00 hours local time. This is the first leg and will be hosted by Sevilla.