Rijkaard to face Mourinho again

SOCCER / Champions League: The Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard was yesterday quick to play down the ill feeling between his side and Chelsea after the clubs were drawn together in the last 16 of the Uefa Champions League.

Their encounter at the same stage last year provoked a bitter feud between Rijkaard and his counterpart Jose Mourinho, and resulted in the retirement of the referee Anders Frisk, who received death threats following Mourinho's claim that he spoke to Rijkaard at half-time in the first leg.

Along with Arsenal's game against Real Madrid, it's by far the toughest draw as holders Liverpool will be the first to testify. Rafael Benitez's side could have done a lot worse than to be paired with Benfica while Rangers, the first Scottish side to reach the last 16, will be happy facing Villarreal.

Rijkaard, meanwhile, is looking forward to a fascinating tie. "In the end every coach wants the same - that's to win," Rijkaard said. "Mourinho is very intelligent, he knows what he's doing. He has the right to act like he wants to act and he's very successful with it, so who am I to criticise him? It's no problem for me, I can separate these things perfectly. We are opponents. Both teams want to win. Both coaches want to win but it doesn't go further than that.

"As a sportsman I like the way he creates something to make a winning team. Sometimes he's looking for those kind of moments - he's a little bit conflictive, challenging a lot of people. I always said right before the game and after the game I have the highest respect for Mourinho and what he's doing with Chelsea. He's a great coach, I'm not thinking about last year. Let's hope it will be a pleasure to watch these games."

The Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech preferred to recall Ronaldinho's wonder goal at Stamford Bridge last year, where Chelsea recovered from a 2-1 first-leg deficit to win the second 4-2 in a superb match and advance 5-4 on aggregate.

"Even he said that the goal against us was the best goal of the season for him," said Cech. "He was great. There were three defenders standing in front of him, in front of the ball, so I didn't see anything. I just saw the ball flying past me into the back of the net.

"Last year the whole world was waiting for our game against Barcelona and I think it will be the same this year," Cech added.

Ronaldinho, meanwhile, says fans should expect another classic. "It will be another top contest between two coaches with high tactical awareness, we should expect something good," said the Brazilian.

Liverpool fans may not be expecting a classic when their side takes on Benfica but Liverpool coach Rafael Benitez knows it will not be easy. "I'm pleased to have avoided certain teams, but we will face a very tough match against Benfica. They are a very good team and they proved just what they can do by knocking Manchester United out of the competition.

"So we will treat them with the respect they deserve, but we will approach the game with confidence in our own ability."

Arsene Wenger, meanwhile, is confident his side can progress to the quarter-finals, despite admitting he would rather not face Real Madrid at such an early stage. Arsenal will travel to the Bernabeu on February 21st. "Ideally we would prefer to play them much later - but that's the problem, you don't choose," Wenger said.

"You expect Madrid to be better in February than now because of the quality of their players and their financial power to buy one or two players in January. But it doesn't change a lot. I believe we're developing well and will also be better in February as our players are developing well and our young players are becoming stronger. I'm confident we can do it."

The England captain David Beckham said: "I am looking forward to it - it's a great draw. I have been waiting to go back and play in England with Real Madrid since I joined the club. It's another chance for me to play at Highbury before they move as well and I don't think many of our players have played there before."

Rangers' manager Alex McLeish rates his side's chances after being drawn against Villarreal, saying: "We've upset the odds by getting through to the last 16 and we will look to upset the odds again."

In the Uefa Cup Middlesbrough have a tough draw in the last 32 against VfB Stuttgart while Bolton Wanderers face Marseille.