09/26/2006
RONALDINHO WARNS RIVALS
Ronaldinho - warning for Barcelona rivals.
RONALDINHO WARNS RIVALSBarcelona superstar Ronaldinho sounded an ominous warning to the rest of the primera Liga by insisting: "We can still get better."
Frank Rijkaard's side have started the domestic campaign with three wins out of three, scoring nine goals in the process, and thumped Levski Sofia 5-0 in their Champions League opener for good measure.
However, Brazil playmaker Ronaldinho is not getting too carried away just yet.
"This season has started well but we can still get better," he told club website www.fcbarcelona.com.
"There are many teams out there that can create many problems for us in the fight for the title - Sevilla, Valencia and Real Madrid among others."
It is Quique Sanchez Flores' Valencia side who on Sunday travel to the Nou Camp, where they have picked up points in each of the past five seasons.
Ronaldinho is keen to buck that trend.
"We are highly motivated towards getting all three vitally important points," said the 26-year-old.
"We must pay close attention to all their players for there to be no surprises.
"Valencia are an extremely difficult team to beat and they have immense quality in attack."
Ronaldinho insists he has not been distracted by talk of a possible new deal in Catalonia.
"I'm never worried about my contract," he said. "I only worry about playing.
"My brother deals with all the paperwork, the only time I worry is when I'm on the pitch.
"I am very happy with the way things are going at the moment. Since I have come to Barca, things have gone well for me. I hope things continue like this all season and for a long time to come."
The former Paris St German star is even happy to live with Rijkaard's famed rotation policy.
"No player likes to sit out of a game, (but) the boss makes his decisions and we respect them," he said.
"I do not consider myself untouchable."
Argentinian youngster Lionel Messi picked up a thigh problem during last weekend's victory over Racing Santander but resumed full training on Thursday and is in contention.
Santiago Ezquerro has been working in isolation after injuring his left quadriceps, and is unlikely to feature.
Valencia, along with Barca and Sevilla, are the only other Primera Liga team to have a 100% record after three games.
Spain striker David Villa is hopeful that record will be extended on Sunday, although the 24-year-old knows it will be far from easy.
"We are very optimistic about the match," Villa told club website www.valenciacf.es. "We know it will be a very difficult encounter against fantastic opposition.
"Their results speak for themselves - champions of Europe, champions of Spain... they are one of the strongest teams in the world.
"Like our team, theirs is full of quality players. If one does not perform then another will. We will have to be alert until the final whistle."
Villa will come face to face with international colleague Xavi on Sunday, and is relishing the task.
"(Xavi is) a great footballer, very important for the way Barcelona play.
"I have had the pleasure of playing in the same side as him and understand very well the way he plays."
17:08 Posted in barcelona and ronaldinho , caricature of ronaldinho , famous interviews with ronaldinho , Robinho vs Ronaldinho , ronaldinho advertisment , ronaldinho advertisment nike , ronaldinho and barca barcelona , ronaldinho biography , ronaldinho Champions League , ronaldinho child , ronaldinho freestyle , ronaldinho girlfriend , ronaldinho goals , ronaldinho in news and newspapers , ronaldinho pictures , ronaldinho transfert , ronaldinho vaccation , ronaldinho video clip , Ronaldinho Vs Inamoto , ronaldinho Vs Zidane video clip , ronaldinho with brazil team , ronaldinho world cup 2006 | Permalink | Comments (1) | Trackbacks (0) | Email this
08/07/2006
Ronaldinho not intrigued by Zidane’s head butt
Los Angeles, Aug 07: The man who is arguably the world's best soccer player might be the only person on the planet who hasn't seen the most famous moment of last month's World Cup.Brazil playmaker Ronaldinho has said that he has yet to watch video of France midfielder Zinedine Zidane head-butting Italy defender Marco Materazzi in the final - though he's heard about it from everyone he knows.
"To tell you the truth, I haven't seen anything," Ronaldinho told reporters while in Los Angeles ahead of yesterday's friendly match between FC Barcelona and Mexico's Chivas of Guadalajara.
Zidane was ejected for the head butt in the World Cup's final in an image broadcast worldwide. Italy went on to win 5-3 on penalties.
It was Zidane who played an instrumental role in knocking Brazil out in the quarterfinals.
"When we were eliminated from the World Cup, I went home and disconnected from the world. I didn't watch TV or read the newspapers," said Ronaldinho, who returned to the southern Brazilian town of Porto Alegre where he grew up.
But wasn't he curious to see it?
"Everybody told me about it, but I preferred to stay away from (everything related to) the World Cup," Ronaldinho said.
Ronaldinho said the head butt didn't diminish Zidane's "spectacular career".
"He deserves all the awards he receives," he said.
Ronaldinho has won Fifa's World Player of the Year award twice.
Zidane has won it three times.
Ronaldinho, who often has huge smiles during games, said he too sometimes loses his cool on the field.
"There is anger during games," he said. "In one moment or another, you can lose your head, or just not be able to take the pressure."
Bureau Report
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05/12/2006
ronaldinho vs Zidane video clip
01:53 Posted in ronaldinho freestyle , ronaldinho goals , ronaldinho video clip , ronaldinho Vs Zidane video clip | Permalink | Comments (2) | Trackbacks (0) | Email this | Tags: Sport