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Rijkaard Still Has Double Vision

Tue 04 Mar, 08:09 AM


Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard insists he is not concentrating on winning the Champions League to the detriment of the club's domestic campaign.

The Catalans suffered their first defeat in 16 matches when they lost 4-2 at Atletico Madrid on Saturday, leaving them five points behind La Liga leaders Real Madrid.

Barca also needed a late Xavi equaliser to earn them a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final against Valencia in the Nou Camp last week.

Speaking ahead of the Champions League clash with Celtic at the Nou Camp, Rijkaard, who dismissed rumours he is set be the next Chelsea manager as "just that, rumours", said: "All competitions are important.

"We are still fighting in the Champions League and in La Liga. The Atletico result should not be exaggerated.

"We played okay, it was just a bad result. We have had injuries this season and we have had to change the tactics.

"But Tuesday night's game is important. We want to get through to the next round and to do that we will have to work hard."

The Catalan club were in top form for the first leg in Glasgow when they twice came from behind to win 3-2 with two goals from Lionel Messi and a strike from Thierry Henry.

But Rijkaard, who is likely to start with Messi from the outset after the Argentina international was omitted from the starting line-up against Atletico, was keen to stress the second leg was not a formality.

"There is still a game to be played. Celtic are a good team whom we respect but we need to finish the job," he said.

"We would like to play well in front of our fans but qualifying through to the next round is the most important thing."

Barcelona captain Carles Puyol pin-pointed Hoops' winger Aiden McGeady - whom he faced in the first leg at Celtic Park - as the main threat.

"McGeady is a great player for them. I hope we can control him so he doesn't cause us any damage," said the defender.

"But we are in good spirits, and even if we didn't play well in the last match against Atletico, that was an exception."

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