Barca's Dane man
Laudrup joins the race to replace 'burnt out' Rijkaard
Last updated: 16th April 2008
Laudrup: Barca bound?
They have lost out on Jose Mourinho, Frank Rijkaard is burned out and I would suggest Laudrup is the man.
Graham Hunter
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Michael Laudrup has emerged as the frontrunner to replace Frank Rijkaard at Barcelona.
That was the verdict of Revista de la Liga's Graham Hunter as the show looked back on the weekend in which the Catalans lost the league title that will in turn, cost the coach his job.
Saturday's 2-2 draw at Recreativo Huelva left them nine points behind Real Madrid with just one win in seven league games - Rijkaard's worst run in charge.
And with the title gone, attention has turned to replacing the coach. Former Barca skipper Pep Guardiola's name has been linked with the post for a couple of weeks now, but Hunter was more than happy to throw another former favourite firmly into the frame - current Getafe coach Laudrup.
"The Catalan football paper Sport say not only is Pep Guardiola lined up as a potential successor for Rijkaard, now that the hatchet has been buried between Michael Laudrup and Johan Cruyff - they parted on bad terms as coach and player in the 90's - Cruyff has been praising him," Hunter told Revista.
"Sport contend that now Laudrup is, on his CV and not just on Cruyff's say-so, a potential candidate. And that is someone I think they should go and hire now.
"They have lost out on Jose Mourinho, Frank Rijkaard is burnt out and I would suggest Laudrup is the man."
But although his days are numbered Rijkaard still has three targets to aim for.
One is the Champions League, with the semi-final against Manchester United a couple of weeks ago, another is avoiding the humiliation of giving Real a guard of honour at El Gran Clasico next month and finally, finishing in second place.
Disastrous
It seems amazing for a side that can boast Ronaldinho, Lionel Messi, Thierry Henry, Samuel Eto'o, Xavi and Andreas Iniesta but with Villarreal just a point behind them in third, Barca are facing up to a financial calamity next season - no matter who is charge
"They are concentrating on the Champions League, that's quite right," said Hunter.
"But they are very, very fearful they will have to give this passage of honour that Real will get as champions when they play them in the Bernabeu. They want to do anything mathematically top prevent that from happening.
"They have to try and rescue something from this disastrous season. We said a couple of weeks ago that Real had the best run it and so it has proved. Barca are nowhere and second place would be a big bonus for them.
"Because of all their foreign tours, if they don't have to play a Champions League qualifier, it will be a big deal for them economically."
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