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Rijkaard wants Barcelona fans to cheer Chelsea
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-03-07 08:53
BARCELONA, March 6 (Reuters) - Coach Frank Rijkaard wants Barcelona fans to
end hostilities with Chelsea and show sportsmanship and fair play towards the
English club in Tuesday's Champions League match at the Nou Camp.
"I saw television pictures of their team arriving and there were a lot of
insults and I felt very bad about what happened," the Dutchman told a news
conference on Monday.
"Whenever a player from my team has been insulted we have all felt concerned
about it.
"I think that we now have a fantastic opportunity for us to show we have
respect for Chelsea and we should applaud them when they step on to the pitch."
Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho had to run the gauntlet of insults and abusive
chanting when he arrived at Barcelona airport and was spat at when he was on the
bus before departing for the team hotel.
"Mourinho has achieved a great deal in his career, he is one of the best
coaches in the world and he has a past with Barcelona," said Rijkaard. "I want
our fans to cheer him because he is a great coach."
Rijkaard compared the events to the recent incident when Barcelona striker
Samuel Eto'o threatened to leave the pitch in a league match against Real
Zaragoza because of racial abuse.
"Recently a Barca player was insulted by opposition fans and we were all very
concerned about it and asked for him to be respected.
"It is not a nice situation and I think the time has come to stand against
this sort of behaviour and show some humanity.
"I truly hope we put the aggression to one side and that we see a wonderful
game of football."
On the sporting front Rijkaard said that there was no danger of his team
taking anything for granted despite their 2-1 advantage after the first leg at
Stamford Bridge.
"We have an advantage but each game is a different story and we have to
prepare ourselves to play a great match tomorrow if we want to get through to
the next round," he said.
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