Only two years ago Barcelona were the top team in Europe winning at home and abroad but now they appear to be a team which is finished and everyone says that it is the end of a cycle but why is it considering many of the players are still in their mid-20s.

Ex-player Albert Ferrer said that he thought it was an internal problem that started with the team doing well and if that is the case then it is Rijkaard and ultimately Laporta's fault. Everyone knows now that Ronaldinho only was going to a third of training sessions and no one complained and this is amazing, can you imagine at Manchester United, Alex Ferguson allowing say Wayne Rooney to go to just one in three training sessions?

I think that Rijkaard has been stubborn and too laid back, he has always planned to leave at the end of the season and looks as though he really doesn't care. The Barca dressing room is difficult to manage of course because of all the personalities and so they need a strong trainer.