(UPDATED 8/5) Rijkaard backpedals on exit claims
May 3rd 2008 18:08
Despite a recent blog post to the contrary by his colleague and confidant Jil van Eyle, Frank Rijkaard has insisted that he has not yet decided to leave Barcelona at the end of the season. At a Saturday press conference, Rijkaard stated his intention to guide Barcelona to a second-place finish this season and only then discuss his plans for the future.
Rijkaard at first seemed to be offering a non-denial denial, with talk of "now is not the moment" to discuss his future. However, the conference eventually produced a more strongly worded statement from the Dutchman, who said, regarding the blog post that announced his departure: "This declaration is entirely untrue."
As the footballing world is notorious for its denials of major changes right up until the moment they go into effect, I'm tempted to believe the assistant's word. An honest mistake may have been made by van Eyle, but more likely is that his early exposure of Rijkaard's plans were accurate but didn't fit in with the club's information control strategy. After all, how many times have we heard that big football news is absolutely, positively untrue, only to find out that it was actually true all along just a short time later? Either in accordance with the early announcement or because of it, I just can't see Frank Rijkaard staying at the club without major intervention on somebody's part. And who's a big enough Rijkaard supporter after two trophy-less seasons at Barcelona to intervene?
UPDATE (8/5): FC Barcelona have announced today that they will be replacing manager Frank Rijkaard with Josep "Pep" Guardiola, a former Barcelona captain, at the end of the season. According to Barcelona president Joan Laporta, Rijkaard received the news on Thursday.
Barcelona look set to finish the La Liga season in third place behind Real Madrid and Villareal, meaning that Guardiola will inherit a team that will have to first make it through the Champions League qualifying round in order to secure a spot in next season's competition. However, Guardiola will be back in familiar territory if he can guide his team into Champions League action, having won the competition in 1992 with Barcelona.
Rijkaard at first seemed to be offering a non-denial denial, with talk of "now is not the moment" to discuss his future. However, the conference eventually produced a more strongly worded statement from the Dutchman, who said, regarding the blog post that announced his departure: "This declaration is entirely untrue."
As the footballing world is notorious for its denials of major changes right up until the moment they go into effect, I'm tempted to believe the assistant's word. An honest mistake may have been made by van Eyle, but more likely is that his early exposure of Rijkaard's plans were accurate but didn't fit in with the club's information control strategy. After all, how many times have we heard that big football news is absolutely, positively untrue, only to find out that it was actually true all along just a short time later? Either in accordance with the early announcement or because of it, I just can't see Frank Rijkaard staying at the club without major intervention on somebody's part. And who's a big enough Rijkaard supporter after two trophy-less seasons at Barcelona to intervene?
UPDATE (8/5): FC Barcelona have announced today that they will be replacing manager Frank Rijkaard with Josep "Pep" Guardiola, a former Barcelona captain, at the end of the season. According to Barcelona president Joan Laporta, Rijkaard received the news on Thursday.
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