The former Brazilian national coach and current manager of Fenerbahce, Arthur Antunes Coimbra, better known as "Zico" spoke on Barca TV and congratulated Blaugrana coach Frank Rijkaard for what he has achieved with the Barca team. Zico believes that Rijkaard has put together a great side and admires how the team play football. He believes that Barca deserved to win the European Cup last year and is clear favourite for the La Liga titles this year.


Here are some of the former Brazil coach Zico´s comments:

Rijkaard was one of the best midfielders I have ever seen. He is a great person who I had the honour of meeting along with Van Basten. We chatted for a while in '98, when we were coaching Holland and Brazil respectively. Given the way he thinks about football and how he played in midfield, he had to become a great coach. He has put together a Barcelona team that plays very well, that plays perfectly and that plays competitively.

Ronaldinho is a marvellous player, I admire the way he plays, because he is so precise and because he knows that at any time he can produce an amazing move to delight us all. Another positive thing is that Rijkaard knew how to find the right position for Ronaldinho to be important to the team. That is one of Barcelona's greatest achievements. He is a player no manager would want to turn down.

It's only logical for so many Brazilians to like Barça so much because it is a club where so many Brazilians have done well. Especially Evaristo, who is now a great manager. He was one the best players at Flamengo and eventually left for Barcelona and became a local hero there. And there were so many others who played for Barcelona, like Ronaldo, Rivaldo and now Ronaldinho. As a Brazilian, I am thrilled to see that so many great players have done so well there, like now with players like Sylvinho, Ronaldinho and Deco himself.

Last year they deservedly won the Champions league. This year they don't feel quite so happy, but that's normal. But they are doing fine in the league, and have every chance of winning it again.

José Roberto Gama de Oliveira, better known as "Bebeto", former Brazilian world cup winner and Deportivo La Coruna star appeared on Barça TV to analyse this year´s "El Classico" at Camp Nou. The Brazilian considers Barça as favourites for Saturdays encounter:

For Madrid it's more difficult, if they loose they will be 8 points behind. For Barça it's easier they will be more relaxed. I'm sure ronaldinho will play, it's a game not to be missed.

Here is the exclusive interview of Barca TV with FC Barcelona´s Icelandic international forward Eidur Gudjohnsen. The summer signing from Chelsea, Gudjohnsen, is looking forward to play in his first La Liga derby match against Barcelona's city rival Espanyol. However, Gudjohnsen is very experienced in playing derbies in the English Premier League and he played over 60 derby matches in England. He has a good goalscoring record in London Derbies. Ask arsenal, Tottenham Hotspurs, Charlton Athletic, Fulham or West Ham, Guddy scored against all of them.


Barca TV: What does a derby have that other matches don't?


Eidur Gudjohnsen: Above all, I think it's local rivalry. There's always a special atmosphere in a derby. The teams are close geographically and if you win you have the right to say to the people around you: "Now we're the best team, this year we've beaten you".


Barca TV: You're a specialist, having played 60 derbies in the Premiership alone.


Eidur Gudjohnsen: With Chelsea, it's easy to play a lot of derbies because there are many more there than is usual. There are a lot of teams in London and you can end up playing 10 such matches a season at home and away.


Barca TV: What's more you've scored goals against just about every London team: Tottenham, West Ham, Arsenal, Charlton, Fulham...


Eidur Gudjohnsen: I hope that gives me more confidence. I hadn't thought about all the goals I've scored in London derbies. Let's hope the run continues, even though its in another country.


Barca TV: Which derby has the best memory for you?


Eidur Gudjohnsen: There was a game against Tottenham I remember especially well. We'd lost 5-1 in the Carling Cup (League Cup) and that had been a great disappointment. Then we drew Tottenham away in the FA Cup, which is the most important in England. We won 0-4 and then three days later we played them in the league and won 4-0 again. It's one of the derbies that hold the best memories for me because there was a lot of rivalry and we really wanted revenge after the big defeat.


Barca TV: One of the most traditional derbies for Chelsea is against Fulham.


Eidur Gudjohnsen: Fulham is Chelsea's closest rival because when it comes down to it the two stadiums are only two hundred meters apart. But for some reason it's a friendly rivalry. There are no bad feelings, which there are for example between Chelsea and Tottenham and Arsenal. Tottenham and Arsenal are the real rivals - Fulham is a friendlier rival.


Barca TV: What would you compare a Barca v Espanyol to?


Eidur Gudjohnsen: I still don't know enough about derbies against Espanyol to be able to compare them to the London ones. When I played in the Super Cup, it was still too soon for me though I noticed that there was a bit of a special atmosphere - now I'm appreciating it more.


Barca TV: How are you all feeling ahead of the match?


Eidur Gudjohnsen: Derbies are always difficult. There's always more pride and intensity than in a normal match. We just have to focus on ourselves and find our good form to do our best. We had the game against Getafe, which helped us start to pick up rhythm after the holidays. I'm sure we'll go into the derby in good form.


Barca TV: What will be the difference compared to the Super Cup?


Eidur Gudjohnsen: The match in Montjuïc was more intense and physical that the return leg in the Nou Camp. We'd won 0-1 and when I came on in the return leg we were already winning 3-0 so the tie had been killed off. Now it's different. There are three points at stake and Im sure the rivalry will be at the highest level.

Barça coach Frank Rijkaard explained on Barca TV his first views as he continues the preparations for the FIFA Club World Cup.


Barca TV: How are you coping with the jet lag?


Frank Rijkaard: "We have been here for a day-and-a-half and we need time to adapt. We are doing well, although some players have had difficulty sleeping properly throughout the night, but that will happen. We are fine."


Barca TV: Are you worried about the acclimatisation of you players to meet the timetable?


Frank Rijkaard: "Not worried, but it is still something that we have to keep in mind. We arrived yesterday and the other team has already spent a lot more time here than we have. They have an advantage. But that is an extra motivation for because it will not be an easy game."


Barca TV: After seeing the game on Monday in Tokyo, what did make of Club América?


Frank Rijkaard: "They are very different to when we played them in the summer, but they deserved to beat the Koreans. It was always going to be hard to play oen attractive football against the Koreans. It was not a great match in terms of quality, but América have qualified. Now we have to play them."


Barca TV: Has the team come to the FIFA Club World Cup in the best form?


Frank Rijkaard: "I do not know if it is the best time. Lately, we have been playing well, but I do not like to speak about the current moment. In my opinion, what is important is the mentality and attitude of the team and their mentality on the field, we are at a very good level. But I know that we can still play even better than what I have seen up until now."


Barca TV: Has the amount of pressure changed since the your arrival in Japan having qualified for the next round of the Champions League and staying on top of the First Division?


Frank Rijkaard: "What has changed is our environment, our circumstances and the moment. I think that it is going well right now, because we have done our job in the league and in the Champions League and now we are here. We are in a moment of relative calm, but that does not mean that we are relaxed. Barça are playing for some very important things and that is always a good thing."


Barca TV: Is the team conscious of how it is playing and how difficult it has been coming here?


Frank Rijkaard: "I think so, yes. Often the papers have focussed attention on the fact that Barça has not won this trophy. We also have a lot of players from South America and for them this tournament is especially important. When you come here it is because you have deserved to and now we have to finish the job and I think that the team has the chance to do something outstanding for the club, so there is not need to look back, we just have to prepapre ourselves. For me this is a very prestigious event. Not only for the team, but for the board and our fans. We have to treat it very seriously."


Barca TV: You won the Intercontinental Cup twice with AC Milan (1989 and 1990). What do you remember?


Frank Rijkaard: "Milan won the Intercontinental Cup twice. Why? Because Milan wanted to have the trophy in its cabinet and for that team to be the one to win it. Because of that we were all very highly motivated to do well."

Javier Saviola had his 25th birthday on Monday while in Japan for the FIFA Club World Cup. Saviola was born on December 11, 1981 in Buenos Aires and Saviola: with the age of 25 years, one of his dreams is coming true, an appearance at the FIFA Club World Cup, a tournament that is taken especially seriously by South Americans.
Saviola spoke to Barça TV and feels that Barca is favourites to win the title.


Barca TV: Have your team mates wished you happy birthday?


Saviola: As always, some people don't know about it, but then someone comes along to wish me well, and they start finding out. But tonight when we go for supper they will all know and will come and say happy birthday.


Barca TV: Have you had any presents?


Saviola: Not yet, I'm still waiting, but I don't mind if I don't get anything. It's more important just to be here with everybody.


Barca TV: And that is the best gift of all?


Saviola: You always want to spend your birthday with your family and friends, but there is something at stake here and knowing how things are going for us, I'd say it is great gift. We have to play a good World Cup and Barça will always be going for the top.


Barca TV: How is the injury?


Saviola: I am improving a lot. I will be training with the group while we are here and trying to get fully fit. I feel fine, I feel comfortable, and am waiting to see how things develop.


Barca TV: It is pleasing to see that the team is winning despite the injuries, isn't it?


Saviola: When the injuries started coming people speculated about signing new players, whether the team was going to miss the injured players We have always said that in a squad where there is so much individual quality it is very difficult to make it better. The important thing is that the boss has substitutes and that can and is helping the team.


Barca TV: What does the Club World Cup mean to an Argentinian?


Saviola: It means a lot. The whole world is watching. And with Barça in it, the people will be watching more than ever. But we are just as excited and focused on winning. For the club and for us as individuals it is something very important.


Barca TV: Can you compare this to the League or the Champions league?


Saviola: No. They are two very different things. We know how important they are, but the others are much longer competitions, they take more effort. Here it is two games. It is important to win, but the other two are more important.


Barca TV: Are Barça favourites to win the World Clubs Cup?


Saviola: Yes, Because of the club and the institution, Barça will always be favourites. But we should not underestimate anybody. Any of them can put pressure on us. We need to go into it with the right mentality and with all of our lights switched on.


Barca TV: Effects of "Jet Lag"?



Saviola: We are all a bit dizzy, and that lasts two or three days. That's just the way it goes and we just have to get focused.