Pressure does not show on coaches

By Graham Hunter in Barcelona

It is rare that you aspire for a UEFA Champions League game to live up to the entertainment value of the pre-match press conferences. But if FC Barcelona against Chelsea FC can achieve that it will be spectacular.

Media masterclass
Both José Mourinho and Frank Rijkaard gave a humorous masterclass in coping with a deluge of testing questions. However, Chelsea's Portuguese manager brought the house down by 'naming' both his and Barcelona's lineups before departing to media applause, saying: "That's a good finale!"

Veil lifted
He had declared: "If your question is trying to get me to name my team, then I will tell you exactly how both teams will line up when we kick off." In the super-secretive build-up to Champions League games, where any available information is taken as adding an advantage, that was rare.

Mourinho's selections
But considering Mourinho insisted on training behind closed doors at RCD Espanyol's Olympic stadium in Barcelona, the surprise effect of his announcement was especially dramatic. Mourinho named Petr Cech; Paulo Ferreira, Ricardo Carvalho, John Terry, William Gallas; Frank Lampard, Claude Makelele, Joe Cole, Tiago; Eidur Gudjohnsen and Didier Drogba for his own side and Víctor Valdés; Juliano Belletti, Carles Puyol, Rafael Márquez, Giovanni van Bronckhorst; Deco, Demetrio Albertini, Xavi Hernández; Ronaldinho, Samuel Eto'o and Ludovic Giuly for Barcelona.

Rijkaard's response
Rijkaard responded: "It's not normal to give away your plans, especially when you have kept your training secret for a couple of days! But let's see at kick-off what the lineups really are!" His only injury doubt is centre-back Oleguer Presas, other than long-term absentees Henrik Larsson, Thiago Motta, Gabri García and Edmílson.

Trio fit
Mourinho's key information was that Gallas and Drogba are fit, while Damien Duff should overcome a knee problem to start on the bench, a boon in the absence of Arjen Robben. "The changes I make in my team will only be for injured players - we will play our normal style and all my guys know the job I want them to do," confirmed Mourinho.

Previous encounter
Five years ago Mourinho was on the home bench as assistant to Louis van Gaal as their Barcelona side defeated Chelsea 5-1 after extra time in a quarter-final second-leg tie, the second time the Londonders had conceded five in the Camp Nou. Deco, among Mourinho's tournament-winning FC Porto side last season and now with Barcelona, admitted: "I do not expect many goals this time because of the way that Chelsea press the ball and defend."

Midfield control
Rijkaard agreed, saying: "This is an interesting moment of pressure for Chelsea. They have just been knocked out of the FA Cup, they are playing at the Camp Nou, which some of their team have not done, and then they have a [League] Cup final this weekend. Perhaps that puts extra pressure on them? However, we know that Chelsea will try to control midfield, that they will press the ball; they won't have many secrets from us."

Different tactics
However, Mourinho may have a surprise. "There will be times when we are prepared to change from four defenders and go three against three in order to load our attack and see if we can score on the counter," he said.

'Game between friends'
The former Barça assistant added: "At the end it is a game between friends. I have many people who still care for me here after my time at the club and will still do so whether Chelsea beat Barcelona or lose to them. It's just that there will be no room to show that friendship on the pitch!"