Skullduggery not on Barca's agenda, say Messi and Rijkaard

Barcelona's coach Frank Rijkaard speaks during a press conference at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, on the eve of their Champions League football match against Chelsea. Barcelona's Argentine star Lionel Messi and the European champions' coach Rijkaard shrugged off any idea they will resort to gamesmanship if the chips are down in their Champions League match with Chelsea.

Barcelona's Argentine star Lionel Messi and the European champions' coach Frank Rijkaard shrugged off any idea they will resort to gamesmanship if the chips are down in their Champions League match with Chelsea.

Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho drew first blood in the off-field battle stakes in suggesting Barca should never have had the penalty which set the Catalan club on their way to Saturday's 3-0 win over Recreativo Huelva, the spotkick following an innocuous challenge on former Chelsea star Eidur Gudjohnsen.

Of Gudjohnsen's antics Mourinho said: "If players do that (go down too easily) in England you kill them."

Last year, Mourinho claimed the Nou Camp was the place to be for "theatre" after insisting Messi went down too easily following a crunching tackle by then Blues defender Asier del Horno.

Messi, who has recovered from an ankle sprain to join the squad, had earlier inadvertently added to the skullduggery theory by posing for Catalan sports daily El Mundo Deportivo with a skull under the unambiguously, if ironically intended, theatrical headline "to be or not to be."

He insisted the cranial caper had simply been for fun, adding that Barca were looking at themselves following recent morale-sapping defeats by Chelsea - their first in the Champions League for 20 months - and then Real Madrid in La Liga.

Barcelona's (L-R) Sylvinho, Motta and Ronaldinho jog during a training session at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, on the eve of their Champions League football match against Chelsea. Barcelona's Argentine star Lionel Messi and the European champions' coach Frank Rijkaard shrugged off any idea they will resort to gamesmanship if the chips are down in their Champions League match with Chelsea.

On the issue of players going down too easily Messi told reporters: "It is up to referees to decide what is happening.

"I trained well and I don't feel any pain. I have a good feeling," he added of his chances of starting the match.

Barca need all the attacking guile they can get with Cameroon hotshot Samuel Eto'o injured until the new year.

Messi dubbed Tuesday's encounter "an important game for us, like any other in the Champions League, as we need to win it" following the reverse two weeks ago at Stamford Bridge which left Chelsea on the brink of qualification.

Rijkaard, whom Mourinho falsely accused of meeting now retired Swedish referee Anders Frisk at half time when the clubs met here two years ago, joined Messi in insisting there was no need for his side to resort to gamesmanship as they bid for a second straight title.

"I think we are working honestly here," said Rijkaard, who is seeking to win back-to-back titles as a coach having performed the feat in 1989 and 1990 as a player with AC Milan.

"We don't need to do that (cheat). It's always the losers who are complaining about the result," he drawled in typically laconic style.

The Dutchman added only Mourinho could explain his apparent obsession with Barca and gamesmanship.

Rijkaard meanwhile insisted he had not entertained the idea of losing.

"It's a very important match and we are prepared to do our job. However, we are up against a very complicated rival.

"Chelsea have adapted the way they play (since last season) but they are still very solid and dangerous - and still winning. The results are still there."