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發表於 2006-3-7 22:37:31
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'Messi is ready to punish Chelsea' - Rijkaard
Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard has warned Chelsea that Lionel Messi is ready to make them pay for branding him a diver.
Jose Mourinho blamed Messi for getting Asier del Horno sent off in the first leg of the Champions League tie at Stamford Bridge.
Mourinho called him an actor but Barca boss Rijkaard will unleash the little Argentina striker on the Chelsea defence, confident that he has not been affected by the accusations.
Rijkaard said: 'Messi is not troubled at all. In fact it is extra motivation for him. He is calm and ready for the match.
'We definitely have the advantage. The result is in our favour and we definitely want to go through to the next round.
'We have the confidence and we think we can do the job.'
Barcelona lead 2-1 after the first leg and Mourinho admits Messi caused his team major problems after Del Horno's dismissal.
Mourinho said: 'The only way Chelsea can stop Messi is with 11 players on the field.
'We must have double marking. With 10 players that is not possible to mark Messi. He will have a lot of space.
'He dribbles very well and if he has a one-on-one and wins it you always need a second man to avert the danger.'
Messi, 19, was rested from Barcelona's 3-2 win against Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday in order to keep him fresh for the Chelsea game.
Rijkaard expects a fierce fight from Chelsea, with a place in the Champions League quarter-finals at stake, and will order his flamboyant team to keep it tight at the back.
The Dutchman said: 'The Deportivo game was a warning for us. We conceded two goals against them and we must have great concentration.
'But we have great players and we have shown we can do it.'
Barca's Brazilian midfielder Edmilson insists the players hold no grudge against Mourinho despite his controversial style.
Edmilson said: 'We have brought this lead back and must make the most of our advantage.
'We are calm and we have nothing against Mourinho. He's a great coach and Chelsea are a great team.
'Their squad is very strong, they are good defensively and on the counter-attack.
'We want to play well but we are most concerned about going through to the next round.' |
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