FC Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard has been named as the "Best Coach of 2006" by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS).


Rijkaard was presented with the award at Camp Nou on Tuesday and stated that he wanted to share the honour with the rest of his coaching staff Johann Neeskens, Eusebio Sacristán, Juan Carlos Unzué, Paco Seirul•lo and Albert Roca:

We work as a unit. It is for that reason that I dedicate the prize to those I work with at the club.

Chelsea´s manager José Mourinho came second, while Sevilla´s Juande Ramos was third.

FC Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard has confirmed that he will not leave the Blaugrana for any other team, despite current rumours linking him with a move to AC Milan in the summer. Rijkaard has made it clear that he still feels he owes Barca after they took a risk in offering him the coaching job in 2003 following a brief spell in charge of lowely Sparta Rotterdam in the Netherlands:
I'm not thinking about coaching another team. I have enough work here and I am committed to Barcelona, even if everything depends on results, that's normal it won't be a surprise. I believe I owe a debt to Barcelona due to all the support they have given me and I have to keep going. When people put their faith in you and help you, you cannot turn your back on them.

FC Barcelona´s assistand coach Henk Ten Cate does not usually make post-match comments about the team but after the superb win against Milan he presented his opinion and spoke his mind:

"We were better in midfield because we played with 3 defenders, with Rafa in a roaming role in front of the the defence and Oleguer and Puyol playing deeper. Gio was in the middle of the field, and these were key factors."

Ten Cate was obviously thrilled with the result but also added a warning:

"We still have a very important game to play in Barcelona. Our team is growing day by day. We have shown today that we are on the right track. The win gives us plenty of confidence. We have a very well balanced team."

FC Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard analysed the situation after the match and summarised it as a: "perfect position". Dutchman Rijkaard commented and responded on the press conference in his cool and prudent manner but agreed that Barca has an advantage over AC Milan in the seconj to qualify for the Champions League Final in Paris.



The FC Barcelona coach described the win as stupendous, but recognises that the semi final has to be played over two legs and that the battle is not over yet. Milan will always be a dangerous opponent and therefore nothing can be taken for granted yet. Rijkaard claimed that FC Barcelona had gone out to win this match at San Siro.

Again, he was impressed by the performance of Andrés Iniesta:

"I should mention all the players but it's true that Andrés Iniesta had a great game. Everyone could see that."

Barca coach Rijkaard also explained that he told Giuly that the plan was for him to be substituted and the French international responded with a terrific goal set up by Ronaldinho.

"Giuly looked pretty certain that he needed to score. I was going to take him off, but he asked for more time and did what he had to do."

In his anylysis of the game he stated:

"It was an interesting game. The players did well. Milan also had their chances but Ronaldinhos pass was great and Giuly finished it off to perfection. Before a game we always observe how we should approach games depending on our rivals, but the most important thing is the way the players interpret the system, and they did that very well today."

But Frank Rijkaard would not be Rijkaard if he would already look ahead to the next match against Milan: "This team has been playing at a very high level for quite some time. It is important to win these games, turn over the page, and wait and see what comes next. In the world of sport there is always a chance for any sportsperson to get the better of another. But we need to keep working seriously, because we have only won the first game. I am happy with the win, but we can't start talking about a leap in quality. I just speak about what I see on the pitch. The companionship and talent in this squad is more important than anything else."

FC Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard:
"It's difficult to say who is the favourite. If we look at tradition and the fact that they are playing at home we could say that Milan have the edge but it's going to be a close battle in both games. After all, you have to prove your superiority on the pitch not by talking."


AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti:

"This is our third Champions League semi-final in four years. We are used to these type of games while Barcelona are not. At the moment, Barcelona and Milan are the two teams in Europe that express the best football. I think the two games against Barcelona are going to be beautiful, there will be no lack of quality. We are in very good shape right now. I hope the team wins and if we don't concede a goal it would be even better. Barça are much more efficient and have more quality than Olympique Lyonnais. They have a very compact team and I do not believe that they will leave us as much space as the French side."


FC Barcelona captain Carles Puyol:
"Milan has more experience than us and that's important. It's also true that they have won more titles and have had more success than we have but we are improving and we cannot stop now. Milan are used to holding onto possession at the back and then hitting you on the break and they don't forgive any mistakes. Well, certainly we have to play with complete focus but our squad are really up for this and full of confidence. We go out to win, though we are well aware of the danger that Milan pose. We are all very excited about the prospect of winning this competition - we have a group of players who've competed at the highest level and we all want to be in there fighting for the top prizes, but we know we first have to get through this tie, which won't be easy."


AC Milan topsorer Andriy Shevchenko:

"The absence of one player (Inzaghi) shouldn't hinder a team. We will not have Inzaghi but we have other great players that are sturdy replacements. Ronaldinho is a very attractive player to watch and he brings beauty to the game of football. This game is not Shevchenko versus Ronaldinho. The most important thing is the group, the spirit of the group. We have an experienced team and are ready for everything."