voldemort

Despite the recent dramas involving Edmilson, and the poor away form exhibited by the blaugrana, club president Joan Laporta insists that the issues plaguing Barcelona last season are fully dispelled.

He told the press, "I don't feel that, at the moment, we're in a dramatic and catastrophic situation," he said.

"We're doing well in the Champions League, and while we've had complicated moments in the Spanish championship, mostly in away games, we're still looking good and we've not given up the fight for the title.

"The team has a lot of potential still to be developed... and we'll be able to affect the situation."

He did touch on the alleged squad unrest briefly, but mainly to quash the idea that it was a dominant fact of life at Camp Nou.

"It's normal that, in a squad full of different nationalities, not everyone lives the same way or thinks alike, so there can be collective disputes, but even that's good for group cohesion," he argued.

"I like [Gabriel] Milito's version of events," he added, citing the Argentine's claims of good team spirit.

And as for the coach, Laporta felt that Rijkaard's input, along with that of technical secretary Txiki Begiristain, is vital.

"We don't want Rijkaard to change his style; quite the opposite," he said.

"Everyone has a style and his we like, because he's shown that he can lead us to success."

source: Goal.com