'Gio' backs rampant Barcelona

Composed side
A remarkable run of results has seen Barça surge up the Primera División table, win their UEFA Champions League group and take the local Catalan Cup, but the Dutch international is adamant Frank Rijkaard's side do not have ideas above their station.

No overconfidence
"Confidence is very high at the club, but not overconfidence," said Van Bronckhorst. "There is no way we will let that happen. We know what we are capable of and what quality we have in the squad, but as soon as you start getting overconfident you slip up."

Villarreal game
Indeed, fellow UEFA Champions League contenders Villarreal are likely to provide stern opposition in Sunday's meeting of Spain's third and first-placed teams at El Madrigal. "We can have a bad day and someone can have a great day and beat us," the defender continued. "But we are not going to let any results change the way we approach games."

Still buzzing
The 30-year-old's last taste of Primera División action comprised all 90 minutes of Barça's 3-0 victory at Real Madrid CF on 19 November, and he is still buzzing from that stunning result for the Spanish champions.

'A massive game'
"This is a massive game, one of the biggest fixtures in the world, and to win it the way we did was fantastic," he said. "You never get carried away so much as to think that one game can decide your season, but I think the triumph over Madrid has shown we are stronger than we were last year."

Team spirit
Team spirit is a major factor in this, and Van Bronckhorst believes the 3-1 UEFA Champions League success against Werder Bremen on 22 November exemplified his side's best qualities. "The Bremen win was very important and it was great to see guys like Henrik Larsson, Thiago Motta and Gabri García starting the match," he explained.

Strength in depth
"Both Gabri and Larsson scored along with Ronaldinho and that demonstrates the depth of our squad," he added. "It's good to see the whole squad being given a chance because we all feel we are pulling the same way and everybody wants to have the opportunity to contribute."

Individual talent
That victory also cast the spotlight once again on the enormous talents of 18-year-old Argentinian forward Lionel Messi and Brazilian superstar Ronaldinho, who this week accepted the Ballon d'Or as Europe's finest player.

The world's best
Van Bronckhorst is in no doubt about his team-mate's ability. "Ronaldinho has continued to make a huge impact and there is no doubt he is the best player in the world at the moment," he said. "You see what he does in training and you are amazed and then he reproduces it on the pitch.

Ronaldinho terror
"It will be a scary prospect if I find myself facing him in the FIFA World Cup next summer," he went on. "The biggest competitions are made for the best players and it will be a stage that I'm sure he will shine on. If I'm against him I'm sure I'll have a few ideas of how to stop him but it would be very tough."

Giovanni van Bronckhorst's personal website is at www.icons.com.