A not so happy return to Scotland for Rijkaard

Published on Monday 18 February 2008 21:57

FRANK Rijkaard arrives back in Glasgow this afternoon, and the unsettled feelings which might stir in his stomach he cannot put down to unfamiliar surroundings.

This is Barcelona's third trip to Scotland in six months, after all. The country has become a second home to the Catalan giants and is perhaps the place they will have wished to finally be able to call on the full might of their celebrated strike force. For the first time since August, Rijkaard will be able to field Thierry Henry, Samuel Eto'o, Lionel Messi and Ronaldinho against Celtic. Their availability is timely for a manager who returns to Scotland with a concentrated mind.

The Champions League match at Celtic Park tomorrow is Barcelona's fourth game against Scottish opposition since July – with Dundee United, Hearts and Rangers having already been faced. Barcelona have only conceded one goal in the 360 minutes' worth of action against these sides, and that was an effort from Juho Makela for Hearts in a pre-season friendly at Murrayfield as the Spanish side prepared for the new season in St Andrews.

But Celtic will provide a tougher test tomorrow night in a stadium where Rijkaard's team won 3-1 in 2004. No other team has since tasted victory at Parkhead in European competition, and while few have boasted the talents which Barcelona include in their impressive weaponry Rijkaard still has cause to feel vulnerable as he prepares for a tie in which he cannot contemplate failure.

The Dutch coach is perhaps already contemplating his legacy as he seeks to reach the quarter-final of a competition his side won to great acclaim with a win over Arsenal in 2006. Since then, however, the Rijkaard tale has soured somewhat, with Real Madrid having relieved them of the La Liga title last season while under the charge of Fabio Capello. Barcelona were also beaten at the last 16 stage of the Champions League by Liverpool last year. A similar outcome against Celtic cannot be borne, although it seems that whatever happens over the next fortnight Rijkaard will soon be history at the Nou Camp.

Justin Webster, director of the acclaimed Barcelona Confidential documentary which covered Rijkaard's surprise arrival at Barcelona in 2003, said yesterday that "nobody believes this is not the end of the cycle (for Rijkaard]". Rijkaard is thought by many to be inching his way out of the exit door already, with former Netherlands team-mate Marco Van Basten among the favourites to take over in the summer. Also being quoted is Jose Mourinho, thought to be holding out for a big job in either Spain or Italy.

Whenever time is finally called on his stay in Catalonia, Rijkaard will be determined to go with the best wishes of fans who waved hankies in the air during his first few, often traumatic months at the Nou Camp, a period which included Barcelona's first home defeat to Real Madrid in 20 years.

This is their traditional way of showing displeasure, although Rijkaard managed to turn things around to the extent that he gathered together the finest crop of talents seen in a generation at Barcelona. But now talk of a rotten core has shaken the club, and Rijkaard, known for his laissez faire attitude, is not perhaps the man to impose the discipline that appears to have slipped. The most obvious crisis has come in the shape of Ronaldinho's form, with the Brazilian having looked out of shape for much of this season. He did, however, come off the bench on Saturday to score the winner against Real Zaragoza, something which will offer Rijkaard some respite.

Missing from that game was Samuel Eto'o, who arrived back late from the African Nations Cup in a further example of the broken code of conduct at the Nou Camp. He is expected to be fit to lead the attack at Celtic Park tomorrow, and perhaps had more reason than most to defend Rijkaard yesterday. The striker returned four days' late after fulfilling his commitments with Cameroon, but is someone who Rijkaard is counting on during the season's run-in.

"With him we've won everything and we'll return to winning just about everything again," said Eto'o. "It's a lack of respect that there is talk of replacing him halfway through the season."

Just seven months ago the Barcelona squad enjoyed a week based in St Andrews as part of preparations for the current league season. It was designed to revitalise a squad who had experienced a gruelling season, and had just watched Real Madrid steal their crown.

It seemed to work well, and with Thierry Henry scoring his first goal for the club in a 1-0 win at Tannadice against Dundee United the scene looked set for a successful tilt at claiming back the title. Henry was meant to help form a dream striking line-up with Ronaldinho, Eto'o and Messi, but after 24 league games Barcelona trail Real Madrid by five points and these talents have been firing only in fits and starts. Their title challenge would have been in a worse state but for Real's surprise loss to Real Betis on Saturday, something which allowed Barcelona to claw back some ground on their rivals ahead of the Champions League resumption.

But this has not been enough to prevent further rumours about Rijkaard's future this week. Barcelona legend Johan Cruyff has given his backing to his compatriot, but, significantly, also hailed Van Basten as a credible successor should the time come for one to be appointed.

"Frank has had a fantastic time and some fantastic results and has helped Barcelona become a club that everyone around the world likes again," said Cruyff. "He has converted the club into an institution of good football. The fact that Bara did not have that a few years ago shows how hard he has worked. (But] Van Basten also loves football and has the same qualities as well in that he likes to win a certain way. As a player he played for some great teams and would not be overawed."

Rijkaard, who once spoke of wishing to take a year out from football after the pressures of the Nou Camp, could be facing a more gruelling time in Scotland than he might ever have imagined as he strolled down the vennels of St Andrews in July.