Van Bronckhorst backs Barça bid

Giovanni van Bronckhorst was a UEFA Champions League winner with FC Barcelona in 2006 and as the competition enters the semi-final stage, the Dutch international believes the Spanish giants can repeat that glory this season.

'Big chance'
"I think they have a big chance of winning the trophy again," said Van Bronckhorst, who joined Feyenoord from Barcelona last season after making 105 league appearances for the club and playing the full 90 minutes of their 2-1 UEFA Champions League final victory against former side Arsenal FC in Paris two years ago. "When you are into the last four of the Champions League, the difference between the sides left is very small."

Barcelona hope
The Catalan outfit face English champions Manchester United FC in the last four as the two-time winners of Europe's premier club trophy aim to reach a sixth final. "I think Barcelona have a good enough team to win the competition and even though the form hasn't been there in the last couple of weeks, they still have a side that can beat anyone," the 33-year-old said. "So, if they can play at their best in the two matches against Manchester United they have every chance of making the final. But I can see both games being very tight."

Arsenal disappointment 
Van Bronckhorst believes the competition is wide open, though, and revealed his disappointment at seeing Arsenal bow out in the quarter-finals against Liverpool FC. "I think you have to give all the teams left credit," he said. "For me, Arsenal were one of the best teams in it. They were playing some excellent football and it's a pity they are out now but Liverpool are a very strong team, physically very strong. They've always performed well in the Champions League over the past few years."

Strong leagues
Having played in both England and Spain he is well placed to assess whether the current English domination – United and Liverpool along with Chelsea FC making up three of the four UEFA Champions League semi-finalists – reflects on the strength of both domestic leagues. According to Van Bronckhorst, though, this does not naturally follow. "I think it's very difficult to say which is the best league right now," he said. "The English league, the Spanish league and the Italian league – all three are very competitive. But the Premier League, for sure, is one of the best leagues in the world."

Renaissance
Capped 75 times by the Netherlands and still an integral member of the Dutch squad as they prepare for UEFA EURO 2008™, Rotterdam-born Van Bronckhorst returned home last summer to join Feyenoord. As club captain he has enjoyed something of a renaissance too, scoring seven times in 31 league outings in what has otherwise been a disappointing season for the club in the Eredivisie. His first season in a second spell at De Kuip could yet end in glory, however, with a Dutch Cup final against Roda JC taking place on home turf on 27 April.