Smash hit

Barcelona’s biggest headache is the loss of Eto’o through an injured right knee until at least the new year. Rijkaard says that he does not plan to buy a replacement. “Saviola, Gudjohnsen, Messi, Ezquerro, Giuly and Ronaldinho are our strikers,” he says. “I think that’s enough, although Eto’o is a very special player. We hope he gets better soon and that we’ll be in good shape when he comes back.”

Nor is he worried about Ronaldinho, who has yet to recover from his World Cup hangover and has mislaid his all-weather smile. “If a player isn’t playing how he wants to play, then it’s not surprising if he doesn’t look happy,” Rijkaard says. “Tell me a player who always plays at the same level.”

The good news for Barcelona, though, is that the Brazil player looked more his old self on Saturday night, scoring twice in the 3-0 victory over Recreativo.

When Rijkaard took over at Barcelona, he said that the problem was that the team had grown accustomed to losing and needed to break the habit. But what about winning, is that a habit you could get out of, too? Rijkaard crosses his long legs and waves the smoke away from his eyes. “If you get used to winning, you like to go on winning,” he says. “It’s not that complicated.”

MOURINHO ACTS UP OVER DIVING

JOSÉ MOURINHO HAS WARNED HIS players to beware of Barcelona’s divers at the Nou Camp tomorrow. The Chelsea manager blames the theatrics of Lionel Messi for his team’s exit from last season’s competition and the European champions are embroiled in further controversy after Eidur Gudjohnsen won a dubious penalty in their 3-0 victory over Recreativo de Huelva on Saturday.

Gudjohnsen has developed a reputation for diving since his move from Stamford Bridge in the summer, winning two penalties and being involved in the sending-off of two players this season. AS, the Madrid-based newspaper, reported his latest “indiscretion” under the headline “Gudjohnsen finds a swimming pool”, while even Barcelona’s Sport went for “ Gudjohnsen invents the decisive penalty”.

“I expect more from Barcelona, they do not need to play like this to win matches,” Marcelino García Toral, the Recreativo coach, said.

With Messi back in training yesterday after an ankle injury, Mourinho has told his players to be on their guard, particularly Frank Lampard, who is one booking away from a one-match suspension.

Mourinho’s mood was improved yesterday by the news that Didier Drogba has been passed fit to play tomorrow. The Ivory Coast striker limped off in the 2-0 win away to Sheffield United on Saturday with a foot injury, but he can expect to lead the line at the Nou Camp.

Andriy Shevchenko joined Drogba on yesterday’s flight to Barcelona but remains a doubt with a thigh muscle problem. The Ukraine forward has not played since scoring in Chelsea’s Barclays Premiership win over Portsmouth nine days ago and will have a fitness test today.

MATT HUGHES