Consecutive defeats to Chelsea and
Real Madrid have forced Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard into a
rethink on the team's tactics, while he has blamed himself for the
side's dip in form.
I haven't done well. The alignments and the style of play haven't
been clear, and my substitutions have not helped us to win the last
two games,' Rijkaard told Radio Catalunya.
The European and Spanish champions fell 1-0 away to Chelsea in the
Champions League last week and followed that up with a 2-0 league
defeat against arch-rivals Real Madrid in the Bernabeu on
Sunday.
The system of rotations, that has come
under fire from sections of the Barcelona-based sports press,
appears to be the main area of concern for Rijkaard.
'The attitude of the team has been good, but I think now is the
moment to return to basic principles,' the Dutchman said.
'Perhaps I have focused too much on
individuals managing things so that one player or another plays,
and failed to concentrate on what is best for the team
overall.
'I have done things which have affected the team and taken us away
from our usual tactics. The team hasn't functioned well and we
can't continue like this. It has been a warning call for me.'
The Primera Liga leaders face a Catalan derby against third
division Badalona in the King's Cup fourth round first leg on
Wednesday and host Recreativo Huelva in the league on
Saturday.