A lot of names have come up this week: Ronaldinho, Valdés, Milito, Messi, Deco, Iniesta... Frank Rijkaard faced the press today to talk about these issues, and also the game on Sunday against Athletic Club de Bilbao.

“We are fine, and looking forward to a good game at San Mamés”, he said. “Attitude is important, as is keenness and concentration. We have to be able to show that we are mentally up to the task”. After the 0-0 draw at the Madrigal, Rijkaard wants to see the team doing better upfront. “The team is working well but we need to make our chances count. We are missing simple things, which are often the most difficult. We need to get the ball moving around in a way that helps each other … Not every goal has to be a work of art”.

The coach was asked if Leo Messi will be in the first eleven against Athletic: “He is training little by little, as we planned. Messi is fine, and now is the time for him to be coming on the second half, but we’ll see tomorrow whether or not he goes on from the start”.

Rijkaard is very happy with Barça’s defensive displays. “I am not surprised. In the last four years we have always had one of the best defensive records”. Víctor Valdés and Gaby Milito have done especially well, but the manager didn’t like to single anybody out. “Milito is proving to be a very important player at the back and Valdés is the best keeper we could have right now. He has character, he’s brave, he has the mentality, I think he is one of the best in the world”.