Club president Joan Laporta announced last week that Rijkaard will be replaced in the summer by youth team boss and former Barcelona midfielder Pep Guardiola.

Rijkaard's five-year tenure will therefore draw to a close when the club travel to relegated Murcia in the final round of the Primera Liga on Saturday.

At his last pre-match press conference at the Nou Camp on Friday, the popular Dutchman was visibly emotional and left his assistant Eusebio Sacristan to address the media.

Before he did so, Rijkaard was presented with a T-shirt with the motto "You'll never smoke alone," which recently appeared on a banner at the Nou Camp.

All of the reporters present donned a replica of the orange shirt.

Rijkaard, who has maintained a good relationship with the press despite indifferent results over the last two seasons, was clearly moved by the gesture.

"This goodbye is dragging on," he said.

"Everything I wanted to say, I have already said.

"It feels like I have been saying goodbye for two or three weeks."

And regarding the shirt's message, he joked: "The sad thing is that I gave up smoking a few days ago."

With that, the Dutchman handed over his speaking duties to Eusebio, who is also set to leave the club at the end of the season.

Eusebio claimed Rijkaard had stuck to his principles up until to the very last day.

"Frank has been true to himself from beginning to end, because he wanted to follow a line," he said.

And the Dutchman's assistant believes Guardiola will bring continuity to the club.

"With the choice of Pep there will be continuity in the football philosophy and in the way of understanding the football that Barca want," he remarked.

However, following internal problems at the Nou Camp over the last year and a half, Eusebio hopes everyone will now work together for the good of the club.

"I hope there is more calmness when it comes to making decisions," he said.

"We have entered in a dynamic which is not ideal for this club to maintain the spirit needed.

"This club needs everybody to row together and push in the same direction."

Eusebio also stuck up for Barcelona's players, who have been much criticised for the team's decline and Rijkaard's demise.

"As professionals, they have always wanted to give everything," he said.

Back-to-back defeats against Real Madrid and Mallorca have left Barcelona ahead of fourth-placed Atletico Madrid on their head-to-head record alone and the Catalans must now beat Murcia on Saturday to guarantee third spot.

Barca are also only three points ahead of fifth-placed Sevilla, but their superior head-to-head record means they cannot be caught by the Andalusians.

The Catalans are therefore guaranteed Champions League football, although they will have to play at least one qualifying round this summer after finishing outside the top two for the first time under Rijkaard.

Deco and Rafa Marquez have been ruled out of Saturday's game through injury and may both have played their last game for the club.

Ronaldinho, who is almost certain to leave the club at the end of the season, is also out.

Edmilson, whose contract will not be renewed by the Catalan outfit, is suspended.

Meanwhile, Gabi Milito, Yaya Toure, Sylvinho and Albert Jorquera are all sidelined.

Of those available, Samuel Eto'o, Santi Ezquerro, Giovani Dos Santos, Eidur Gudjohnsen, Thierry Henry and Lilian Thuram could be making their last appearances in Barca colours as the club takes a new direction under Guardiola.

Two youth-team players have also been included in the squad.

Right-back Fali and midfielder Rueda were unused substitutes in the game against Mallorca, but could make their debuts on Saturday.

Murcia, meanwhile, have already been relegated following a dismal return to top-flight football.

Midfielder Francisco Gallardo is set to lead a mass exodus of players as the club prepare for life in the Second Division.

Gallardo has a year left on his contract, but is not part of coach Javier Clemente's plans.

Clemente looks set to agree a new deal to remain at Murcia next season and against Barcelona, the former Spain coach will select the players he believes will still be at the club in August.

Antonio Notario, Cesar Arzo and Mario Regueiro all look set to miss out through injury anyway, while Curro Torres, Abderrahman Kabous and Pablo Garcia are definitely sidelined.

Murcia are second from bottom, with just 30 points from their 37 matches.