The gallant players speak about the downfall of Real Betis.


FC Barcelona players were all delighted after the 3-0 bashing of Real Betis at Camp Nou. The players were caught up with after the match for comments and some who spoke did so for the rest of their teammates:


Xavi:

We are pleased. The team felt comfortable. We have played a great game and now we are just one point from the top. What is important is to return to winning ways. We have to have to feel comfortable on the pitch and we will keep going. It was hard to score the first goal because the opposition sat back and waited for us in their half. We had to keep moving the ball around quickly. Ronaldinho has always been with us. We know that he can come good at any time and we need him.

Bojan Krkic:

I try to make every ball dangerous. Betis opened up and their defence was tired and that allowed me to break through with more ease. Ronaldinho has shown that he is coming back to his level little-by-little and he will soon be back to his best. I have a good relationship with Henry. Before the game he said he would dedicate a goal to me.

Andrés Iniesta:

We have to improve away from home and try to pick up more points. At home it is important that we play well. To play at home is always easier. We have to see it as a challenge and to know that things will even out. The team has to improve thinking that.

Lilian Thuram:

It was a very difficult game. In the first half we had many chances, but this result is good for us in the table. It is equally important to play well away. In Camp Nou we do not have the same difficulties. Away from home we have trouble winning the ball back and that is crucial. At home the other teams sit back we control games.

Víctor Valdés:

It has been an entertaining game with a lot chances and great intensity. We put the pressure on them and wanted the ball and we won it back quickly. It is always important to pick up points and game by game we are closing in on the leadership. There is nothing to say about Ronaldinho. He has been focussed all the time and now we are seeing the fruit of that.

An inspired Rijkaard speaks in the post-match press conference after Atletico victory.


Frank Rijkaard was elated with the victory against Atletico Madrid, and even went further to boast about Barca's ability to step up their performance even though the Catalan giants put up one of their best displays of the season. Such was the new confidence that has breezed into the FC Barcelona squad as of now, after a shaky start to the season. One or two close chances which Barca missed were also pointed out by the Dutchman, who started with giving cheers to the victorious team:

I want to congratulate the players on an important victory against a strong side that historically have a good record against us. We can still grow even more and maintain our best rhythm for 90 minutes. In the second half we became less precise and looked tired. The team started nervously, but after the first goal we played with more confidence and speed.

Rijkaard then praised four of the team's players. The coach would have praised all the players as everyone was in great form. Selecting Ronaldinho, Messi, Iniesta and Xavi to represent the rest in praise, Rijkaard said:

I am very pleased with Ronaldinho's contribution. Messi is a key player and a pleasure to watch. Iniesta has the capacity to maintain possession and keep his position, while Xavi can then go in search of the ball.

In his post-match comments, Frank Rijkaard exhibits three different moods.


FC Barcelona's coach Frank Rijkaard was both joyful, sad and aware of the situation facing the super squad. Rijkaard's source of sadness was the injury crisis in Barca, which has been worsened with Marquez and Puyol going back into injury after just recovering. The source of joy was the 2-0 away victory the Blaugrana secured against group mates, VfB Stuttgart in the Champions League clash in Stuttgart. The source of awareness was the creeping relaxed attitude that is slowly coming back into mentality of the players, after the stars showed signs of overconfidence against Stuttgart, but quickly recovering when things became desperate. Rijkaard started by saying that:

It was important that we secured a result today. It is a shame that we have two injured players now, but it's not that bad with Puyol. Hopefully he’ll be back very soon. But Márquez will need some tests tomorrow. We started well, had some chances, but chose the one-on-one too often when closing down in the area which strengthened our opponents.

Rijkaard highlighted grey areas in Barca's game during the match

There were times when we were playing the ball around the outside of their area and giving Stuttgart the chance to build up their confidence, and they play very direct football. We should have decided the match by then but did not manage to do so. Stuttgart reacted well and that's why our goalkeeper's saves were so important. Our problem is that we have many great players but they sometimes think it's all coming to them without work. We still have to work very hard.

Rijkaard had praises for three players in the match, namely versetile midfielder Iniesta, hardworking defender Abidal and colourful supremo Ronaldinho:

Iniesta is a very important player, very intelligent, because he can read everybody’s positions on the field of play. The only thing he can’t do is play in goal. Abidal was one of the best today, as was Abidal, who also did a grand job at centre back. Also, Ronaldinho held out very well for the whole game, and played an important part in Puyol’s goal. I am delighted for him.

FC Barcelona will play the next match on Sunday, 7th October against Atletico Madrid in the Spanish La Liga. The match takes place in Camp Nou.

Victorious Barca players speak in post-match comments.


FC Barcelona players were all happy about the outcome of the match against Levante. Xavi, Messi, Valdes, Oleguer all spoke, and so did Deco, who expressed concern over the outcome of teammate Toure Yaya's injury. The comments from players were as follows:


Xavi:

It is well known that things can turn from optimism to pessimism in a week, but things are working. It was important to score a third because we had a lot of space and that was why we were able to score the goals at the start of the season half. They wanted to try and play offside. Henry always creates three or four chances and today he made us of them.

Messi:

The move for my goal was very fast. Deco found me with a spectacular pass and I was one against one with the defender, which is what I like. He was able to score the goals that he was looking for. I am very happy for Henry.

Deco :

Messi makes one-on-ones look incredibly easy. We have played well. In the first half we created chances and scored. We are in good form despite the injuries that we have suffered. The team is improving and growing. We have won away from home and our intention was to add points and gain confidence. Touré's injury is a shame. He is in great form. I will not play in Touré's position.

Oleguer:

The team is playing well in every position. Now we are scoring too and that was what cost us at the start of the season. There has to be a calm environment because things do not work when their is anxiety, as the desire and quality is there. This season will be very hard because there are difficult games coming every week. I think that we have a great team.

Valdés:

The win is important to keep going at the top. Puyol said to me that it was not a penalty, but what is more important is the final result. We have done things well, we have taken our chances and, in particular, we have kept possession of the ball. I do not think that the team has changed. I believe that the media talks a lot, but we had played the same and the results have now come our way. We try to play every game by showing complete respect to our opponents.

Rijkaard is happy with Barca and Thierry Henry, but sad about the latest injury crisis in FC Barcelona.


In his post-match press conference, FC Barcelona’s coach Frank Rijkaard admitted two things. The first was that his opposite, coach Abel Resino of Levante did a good job with the Valencia side. The second admission was that Barca were smart enough to quickly unlock the strategy used by Resino, scoring the first goal and adding three more afterwards. Rijkard, who spoke with mixed feelings as many Barca stars are injured, was still optimistic inspite of the injuries that have hit Camp Nou in recent times:

They did not give us any space, but after the goal, things opened up and we were able to play more comfortably. In the end, it was an easy win, though it was tricky in the beginning, until we scored that first goal. I am satisfied with the result, but bitter over the injuries. However, we must be prepared for such disadvantages, because it is not always possible to have all the players fit. We have players to play the roles, though each of them have their own style.

Milito and Toure will undergo scans on Sunday morning to determine the true extent of their respective injuries. Ronaldinho is still recovering from his muscle injury, while Eto’o will have to wait till October or November to make a come back. Zambrotta will return in December as Rafa Marquez will know his fate soon after picking up an injury as well. Captain Puyol and Gudjohnsn are just back from long lay-offs.

Rijkaard praised hattrick hero, Thierry Henry as the Frenchman rose to the occasion, and the coach also had some nice words for the entire team:

Henry had a great game, and is coming to his best. We’re still going to see even greater performance from him in the coming weeks. The entire team played very and I congratulate everyone.