Rijkaard will not quit

Barca boss insists he will not walk away

Last updated: 29th April 2008

Barcelona Frank Rijkaard

Rijkaard: Not thinking of quitting

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Frank Rijkaard promised to carry on as Barcelona manager following the UEFA Champions League semi-final defeat to Manchester United.

Barca held United to a goalless draw at Camp Nou last week but slipped to a 1-0 loss in the second leg as Paul Scholes scored a stunning early goal.

Barca will now finish the season without a trophy following a disappointing Primera Liga campaign, and Rijkaard's departure is regarded as inevitable by many in Catalonia.

No intention

However, the Dutchman has made it clear he will not be going of his own accord, saying: "That thought has not entered my head.

"I have no intention of leaving. The club need help and support. We all need to stick together.

"It would be a different case if the players were saying it was time to go but that is not the case.

"Barcelona are a massive club and there are people to take the decisions at the end of the season if decisions need to be taken."

Barcelona enjoyed most of the possession in both legs against United but Rijkaard concedes there was a lack of cutting edge.

Tough

"We did everything but score," he said.

"It was a very even game, if anything we had the better of the play. But the rules are that the team that scores goes through and they did that."

Rijkaard added: "It is a tough defeat to take and it is hard to stomach.

"The Champions League is very important and it is over for us now. But after this game can walk away with our heads held high."