Van Gaal vindicated by Barcelona win

FC Barcelona coach Louis van Gaal was pleased with the way his side played as they secured a 1-0 win against Club Brugge KV in the Jan Breydel stadion in Bruges, Juan Román Riquelme's 64th-minute goal deciding the outcome of the UEFA Champions League Group H game.

'I had faith'
Van Gaal was understandably delighted with the way his side, deprived of several key players through injury and with other big names rested, collected their fifth consecutive win in this competition. "I said at the press conference yesterday that I had faith in my team, and tonight they have paid me back," the Dutch coach said.

'Deserved victory'
"I was very happy with the way we played tonight, as we were very well organised. I think we kept possession of the ball very well, and deserved our victory," Van Gaal went on to say

'They knew what to do'
The Dutchman also emphasised that his team all knew what was expected of them before the game kicked off. "We began [pre-season] training on 10 July, and there was only one player tonight who did not start training then,2 he said. "Even though we played a different system tonight, with two strikers and an attacking midfield player in Riquelme, the players all knew what they had to do."

Praise for Enke
Although he said his side fully deserved to take all three points from the game, Van Gaal admitted that it took a spectacular late save from goalkeeper Robert Enke to secure the win. "Enke played very well tonight, and saved two points for us in the final minute of the game when he saved [Sandy] Martens' header."

Sollied disappointed
Unsurprisingly, Brugge coach Trond Sollied was in downbeat mood following his side's defeat, although he refused to give up hope of reaching the next group stage. "It was a sad evening, both for the supporters and myself," he said. "In football, everything is possible, but I think a draw would have been a more logical result tonight."

'We were unlucky'
Sollied admitted that his side had not created enough chances, but claimed that Barcelona did not deserve to win either. "Neither team had good chances to score tonight," he said. "Barcelona defended more than they attacked, which was bad for us, particularly after they had taken the lead, but we were unlucky not to equalise."

'A draw will do'
Sollied, who takes his side to Moscow to face FC Lokomotiv Moskva in the final game, was adamant that there would be no big changes ahead of that vital match. "We will not change our style for the last match," he said. "After our first game in Barcelona, if you told me we would still have a chance of qualifying, I would have thought you were kidding. But we do have a big chance, and I think a draw in Moscow will do. All we can do is our job and hope that Barcelona have the honesty to do their [job]."

Final games
Barcelona host Galatasaray SK in the Nou Camp the same night Brugge travel to Moscow. Brugge currently lie in second place on five points, one ahead of both Galatasaray and Lokomotiv.