Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard brushed aside questions about his long-term future at the Nou Camp, insisting his focus is only on Sunday's Primera Liga match with Real Valladolid.
Barca were knocked out of the Copa del Rey semi-finals by Valencia last week, but despite that they are still in the hunt for two other titles as they look to bounce back from a barren 2006/07 season.
They face Schalke in the quarter-finals of the Champions League next month, while they are second in the Primera Liga standings, albeit seven points behind arch-rivals Real Madrid.
It has been a mixed season for Barca, and one where there has been almost continual speculation about whether Rijkaard will still be in charge next campaign.
However, when asked about the subject ahead of Sunday's league match, Rijkaard said: "I am only thinking about the game against Valladolid, which is the more important thing."
Rijkaard also insisted he has the backing of club president Joan Laporta and sporting director Txiki Begiristain.
"I have always had the trust of the people in the club, if not, you couldn't work," he said.
Despite his side's inconsistencies this season, the Dutchman, who has been in the Nou Camp hotseat since 2003, is confident they still have what it takes to win a trophy double.
"Barca can lose a game, but we can also win every game, because we have the ability and quality to do it," he said.
Rijkaard will be without playmaker Ronaldinho for the third successive game when Barca host Valladolid.
The Brazilian's fitness has been the source of much media interest this week, with the former world footballer of the year sitting out Barca's 2-2 Primera Liga draw with Almeria last Sunday complaining of pain in his left thigh, before training for just six minutes on Monday due to the same complaint.
A scan on Monday revealed the Brazilian was not suffering from any injury, but coach Rijkaard subsequently left the player out of his squad for Thursday's Copa del Rey second leg against Valencia as a "precautionary measure".
And Ronaldinho has now also been omitted for this weekend's match against Valladolid, with Rijkaard saying: "The player says that he has some discomfort. I think that it is the same as last week. He trained at practically 99% (on Saturday)."
They face Schalke in the quarter-finals of the Champions League next month, while they are second in the Primera Liga standings, albeit seven points behind arch-rivals Real Madrid.
It has been a mixed season for Barca, and one where there has been almost continual speculation about whether Rijkaard will still be in charge next campaign.
However, when asked about the subject ahead of Sunday's league match, Rijkaard said: "I am only thinking about the game against Valladolid, which is the more important thing."
Rijkaard also insisted he has the backing of club president Joan Laporta and sporting director Txiki Begiristain.
"I have always had the trust of the people in the club, if not, you couldn't work," he said.
Despite his side's inconsistencies this season, the Dutchman, who has been in the Nou Camp hotseat since 2003, is confident they still have what it takes to win a trophy double.
"Barca can lose a game, but we can also win every game, because we have the ability and quality to do it," he said.
Rijkaard will be without playmaker Ronaldinho for the third successive game when Barca host Valladolid.
The Brazilian's fitness has been the source of much media interest this week, with the former world footballer of the year sitting out Barca's 2-2 Primera Liga draw with Almeria last Sunday complaining of pain in his left thigh, before training for just six minutes on Monday due to the same complaint.
A scan on Monday revealed the Brazilian was not suffering from any injury, but coach Rijkaard subsequently left the player out of his squad for Thursday's Copa del Rey second leg against Valencia as a "precautionary measure".
And Ronaldinho has now also been omitted for this weekend's match against Valladolid, with Rijkaard saying: "The player says that he has some discomfort. I think that it is the same as last week. He trained at practically 99% (on Saturday)."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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