Barça back and hungry for more

The key word among the FC Barcelona squad under coach Frank Rijkaard is focus. No outlandish predictions will be made or too much emphasis placed upon a game that is not the next one on the Camp Nou fixture list.

Ability and experience
After winning the UEFA Champions League to cap an incredible season that also yielded the Spanish title, the Blaugrana start the 2006/07 group-stage campaign with the experience to add to their undoubted ability. Whether they can become the first team to defend the European Champion Clubs' Cup since the competition's format changed in 1992 remains to be seen.

Larsson replacement
En route to, and including the final in Paris, Barcelona conceded only five goals and scored 24 - giving little indication that anything needed changing over the summer. The one signing that was recognised as a must, however, was finding a replacement for the departing Henrik Larsson.

Defence stronger
Eidur Gudjohnsen was identified as the right man and his switch from Chelsea FC has been seamless as he has slotted into the close-knit Barça unit. Having boasted such a mean defence last term, the summer acquisitions of Lilian Thuram and Gianluca Zambrotta from Juventus will make the back four even more redoubtable.

Multi-tasking stars
Rijkaard knows he needs not just a big squad to cope with the demands of modern football, but also one with numerous players capable of operating in more than one position. In Gudjohnsen, Thuram and Zambrotta he has secured three more versatile stars for his formidable roster.

Vital results
For the third year running Barcelona face Chelsea FC in UEFA Champions League action, though the stakes may not be as high this time as their two-match duel will not necessarily result in elimination for one of the two sides. While the media have concentrated on the meeting of the English and Spanish champions, results against the other teams in Group A, Werder Bremen and PFC Levski Sofia, will be key.

Perfect run
"The most important thing is to qualify and, if we can, to finish top of the group," explained Gudjohnsen. "It will not just be about the games against Chelsea, but also those against Werder and Levski. We have to play as well as we can in every match and if we win them all, we will be fine."

Inward focus
Nor is Ronaldinho willing to focus on José Mourinho's men, believing the most important factor in Barça's success is the way they themselves play. "We know all about how good Chelsea are," the Brazilian said. "They have an impressive squad and their summer signings cannot fail to improve them. But I believe we should not worry about the other teams too much."

Repeat performance
Despite their 2005/06 triumph, there is no air of arrogance around Camp Nou. The fact they have won trophies has only redoubled the team and their coach's determination to do so again.