The End Of A Cycle, Rebuilding Needed - Rijkaard
With the dust from the 4-0 defeat to Getafe settling, Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard has insisted that his resolve to take the team back to the top has not been affected. However, he admitted that a winning team needs to be re-built again.
The Barcelona coach has admitted that the life of this current team could be at an end, and that nothing but a full reconstruction was needed.
"We are planning to construct a great team of which our partners can be proud," said Rijkaard on a Catalan radio show.
"All the great teams in the history of the sport have played at a great level for three or four years. Then there have always been changes, be they in coaches or players."
"Before the start of the season, we decided to have confidence in the same group to win things again. Because they have been together for three years, and already won many titles together, now is the moment to reflect whether that can continue."
"This team has done a lot, and given it a lot of happiness, but the time has come to plan for the future and make changes."
My Future Is Here
Rijkaard also reiterated his desire to be a part of that future.
"My future is my present," he said. "It is an honor to work for this club, and right now, it is important to finish with dignity.
"My ideas have not changed due to the defeat or the criticism. I am not a coward."
Looking at possible summer moves, he refused to give out details, but admitted that the work had already begun: "Barça are a club always progressing, a club to which many players love to come. The club continues to move looking towards next season.
"However, before that, we must finish with pride, in the best possible way. We cannot remain in the current state, and need to react. We must all improve."
So there, the cat has been let out of the bag, with the coach having admitted publicly that an overhaul is what Barcelona need. It remains to be seen who will leave, and who will not, and also how the speculation will affect the team at such a crucial stage of the season, particularly with Real Madrid coming on strong.