Neeskens: Barça Will Start With Three ForwardsJohan Neeskens has confirmed that FC Barcelona will not start the new season with Thierry Henry, Samuel Eto'o, Ronaldinho and Lionel Messi all playing in the starting line-up.
xpectation is high over the quartet, dubbed the Fantastic Four, and the main question in pre-season has been whether or not they can all play together.
With Messi having missed the majority of the build-up due to his appearance in the Copa América, Neeskens explained that lack of familiarity means that a trident will be named for the opening away at Racing Santander.
Eto'o's fitness will also have to be assessed as he was forced to make another trip to the Far East in midweek to play for Cameroon in Japan, only ten days after returning from the tour there with Barça.
"We have the best attack in the world, but people must think about the balance of the team," the Blaugrana assistant coach explained.
"They have not played together at all in pre-season and that would make it very difficult in Santander.
"Three of them have trained and we shall see how Eto'o is and will then make a decision."
The Barça coaches have another difficult choice to make in midfield and Neeskens recognised that it will not be easy to choose three from four in the centre either.
"The games where Touré, Xavi and Iniesta have played together have gone well, but an in-form Deco can bring so much to the team too," he added.
"The league is very long and whoever is on the bench will not be there forever.
"Everyone has to accept Rijkaard's decision and realise it is for the good of the team.
"It is very important that we put across what we want and that the players respond to that."
This post has been edited by zvintik on 24 Aug 2007, 16:45
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