MADRID, May 4 (Reuters) - Former coach Johan Cruyff is confident Barcelona can add the European Cup to their Primera Liga title when they take on Arsenal in the Champions League final on May 17.
The Dutchman was critical of the side early in the season as
they experienced a stuttering start but was one of the first to
hail their achievements after they claimed their second
successive championship title on Wednesday.
'I am sure we are going to beat Arsenal in Paris,' Cruyff
told Radio Catalunya.
'But we can enjoy what we have won now because we have two
weeks to prepare for the final.'
Cruyff's coaching achievements - four successive Spanish
championships in the early 1990's and Barcelona's only European
Cup triumph in 1992 - have hung like an albatross round the neck
of his successors.
But in coach Frank Rijkaard, another Dutchman, Barca appear
to have found someone capable of perhaps recreating the era of
the 'dream team'.
Cruyff added: 'Rijkaard has managed to get the side to
function as a team. Some players do the hard work and others do
beautiful things with the ball.
'Ronaldinho remains fresh, for example, because other
players sacrifice themselves for him, which is the key.'
The likes of Brazilian forward Ronaldinho, Cameroon striker
Samuel Eto'o and Portugal midfielder Deco are the high-profile
imported names that provide the glamour to Rijkaard's side.
But behind them have been a supporting cast of homegrown
players who have been crucial to the side's success.
The explosive talents of Argentine Lionel Messi were
nurtured in the youth ranks, alongside local players such as
goalkeeper Victor Valdes, defenders Carles Puyol and Oleguer and
midfielder Andres Iniesta.
Another, Spain midfielder Xavi, has missed five months of
the season with a serious knee injury and it is a credit to the
side they have not appeared to miss him.
The carefully nurtured team ethic and a patient commitment
to playing entertaining football were there to see on Wednesday
when they clinched the league title.
Due to their having a later kickoff time to second-placed
Valencia, Barca knew they were champions at halftime in their
match away to high-flying Celta Vigo.
Valencia's 2-1 defeat at Real Mallorca left Barca with an
unassailable lead at the top of the table, regardless of the
result in their game.
But rather than sit back, the Catalans showed admirable
professionalism to step up a gear to win 1-0, with Eto'o netting
his 25th goal of the season in the 54th minute.
Around 4,000 fans greeted the team when they landed back at
Barcelona airport in the early hours of the morning and
thousands more lined the streets as the team took an open-topped
bus back to the Nou Camp.
The official title celebrations are expected to be held on
Saturday at their home game against city rivals Espanyol.
