soccerchic
Apr 17 2003, 02:11 PM
Stand-in Barcelona coach Raddy Antic is convinced he deserves to stay in charge beyond the summer and believes victory on Saturday over arch-rivals Real Madrid in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium would go a long way to ensure he does.
As the situation stands, Antic will leave the club at the end of the season when his short-term contract expires.
He was brought in to replace Louis van Gaal when the Dutchman was sacked in January and has been given no indication that his deal will be extended.
However, the Serbo-Montenegrin has sparked an upturn in form for the Nou Camp outfit and has made a good job as replacement for Van Gaal, a flop in his second spell in charge of the Catalans.
Saturday night sees Barca taking on Madrid in a crucial match for both teams.
Madrid will strive for victory to keep them at least three points in front of Deportivo La Coruna and Real Sociedad.
Barca, equidistant from the UEFA Cup places and the relegation zone - six points away from both, have more desperate priorities.
Antic believes he would be a success if given the role full-time.
'Obviously I would like to continue to coach Barca, but I live in the present and we will see what happens in the future,' Antic told PA International. 'I think that, above all, I have brought dedication to this team.
'I am very focused and I have high hopes that Barcelona will get a win at the Bernabeu stadium.
'Nerves can affect the players, the atmosphere also influences the outcome of the match but I am confident that the top players will perform and that the team will get a win.'
The first match between the teams this season, a notorious goalless draw at the Nou Camp, has set the tone for this weekend's clash.
In November, when Van Gaal was in charge, Barca did well to hold Madrid at home but the match was marred by crowd disturbances.
Real's Luis Figo, reviled at the Nou Camp for leaving to join their arch-rivals for a then world record fee in 2000, was pelted with whatever came to hand for some Barca fans - cigarette lighters, golf balls and even a pig's head.
Barca were later banned from their home ground for those incidents, although they are appealing against the Spanish FA's verdict.
On the flip side of the coin, Antic is a former Madrid coach, and is also the only man ever to have been in charge of both the teams who meet on Saturday and Atletico Madrid, the three most successful teams in Spanish football history.
He will not play down the significance of Saturday's game, recognising how important it is to beat Madrid for Barca supporters.
'It is a classic, it is not only three points,' said 53-year-old Antic, who replaced Alfredo di Stefano to coach Real in the 1991-92 season.
'It has been a long time since I coached Real Madrid. They are past times, I don't believe I will feel strange.'
Antic left empty-handed after 10 months, with Barca winning that season's title, one point ahead of his Madrid side.
However, the Serbo-Montenegrin added: 'I have very fond memories of my time at Real Madrid. It was magnificent, successful and I am very grateful to have had that opportunity.'
He is not the only former Madrid man returning to the Bernabeu, with Luis Enrique, fit now after a serious Achilles injury, ready to take up a position in attack rather than his usual midfield berth.
'Luis Enrique is not just another player. His ambition and determination is contagious with other players,' Antic explained.
'I am very happy to have him on the team.'
Barca are currently 12th in the top-flight, but with nine games to go they could go either way, down towards the danger zone, or up towards the top six who gain entry to European competition.
'It would be very nice to get a Champions League place next season not only because of the money but also because of the prestige it carries,' said Antic.
However his best opportunity of advancing to the most elite of European competitions looks to be by winning this year's edition.
Barca have a proud record to defend, as the only team to have competed in every year of European competition.
After the first leg of their quarter-final against Juventus in Turin, Barca are well placed to qualify for the semi-finals.
A 1-1 draw means the Azulgrana would go through with a goalless draw or by winning next Tuesday's second leg.
Although he is aware of the significance of the Madrid match, Antic admits: 'Tuesday's match against Juventus is a grand final for Barcelona, more important than Saturday's match.'
Barca will be without striker Javier Saviola for the Madrid game, suspended after his red card in last week's defeat by Deportivo La Coruna.
'It is an important loss as he is a crucial player, but following the decision to turn down the appeal, we decided not to continue to contest it,' said Antic.
Both Barca and Madrid lost 4-2 last week, with Antic's side thumped by Depor and the capital side losing dramatically to Sociedad, just five days after they had blitzed Manchester United 3-1 in the Bernabeu.
'I was not surprised by the (Madrid) result,' Antic said.
'In the Primera Liga there are difficult opponents, each rival can cause you problems. It happened to Real just as it had happened to us.'
Antic probably has a dream scenario for Saturday's game, and it would be Barca winning by any score, a result which would further endear him to supporters.
But it will be going some to beat the club's greatest victory against Madrid, a 5-0 thrashing inflicted on the Merengues in February 1974.
Adding further spice to the fixture is the possibility that it will not be their last this season, with a semi-final Champions League meeting very much on the cards.
As the situation stands, Antic will leave the club at the end of the season when his short-term contract expires.
He was brought in to replace Louis van Gaal when the Dutchman was sacked in January and has been given no indication that his deal will be extended.
However, the Serbo-Montenegrin has sparked an upturn in form for the Nou Camp outfit and has made a good job as replacement for Van Gaal, a flop in his second spell in charge of the Catalans.
Saturday night sees Barca taking on Madrid in a crucial match for both teams.
Madrid will strive for victory to keep them at least three points in front of Deportivo La Coruna and Real Sociedad.
Barca, equidistant from the UEFA Cup places and the relegation zone - six points away from both, have more desperate priorities.
Antic believes he would be a success if given the role full-time.
'Obviously I would like to continue to coach Barca, but I live in the present and we will see what happens in the future,' Antic told PA International. 'I think that, above all, I have brought dedication to this team.
'I am very focused and I have high hopes that Barcelona will get a win at the Bernabeu stadium.
'Nerves can affect the players, the atmosphere also influences the outcome of the match but I am confident that the top players will perform and that the team will get a win.'
The first match between the teams this season, a notorious goalless draw at the Nou Camp, has set the tone for this weekend's clash.
In November, when Van Gaal was in charge, Barca did well to hold Madrid at home but the match was marred by crowd disturbances.
Real's Luis Figo, reviled at the Nou Camp for leaving to join their arch-rivals for a then world record fee in 2000, was pelted with whatever came to hand for some Barca fans - cigarette lighters, golf balls and even a pig's head.
Barca were later banned from their home ground for those incidents, although they are appealing against the Spanish FA's verdict.
On the flip side of the coin, Antic is a former Madrid coach, and is also the only man ever to have been in charge of both the teams who meet on Saturday and Atletico Madrid, the three most successful teams in Spanish football history.
He will not play down the significance of Saturday's game, recognising how important it is to beat Madrid for Barca supporters.
'It is a classic, it is not only three points,' said 53-year-old Antic, who replaced Alfredo di Stefano to coach Real in the 1991-92 season.
'It has been a long time since I coached Real Madrid. They are past times, I don't believe I will feel strange.'
Antic left empty-handed after 10 months, with Barca winning that season's title, one point ahead of his Madrid side.
However, the Serbo-Montenegrin added: 'I have very fond memories of my time at Real Madrid. It was magnificent, successful and I am very grateful to have had that opportunity.'
He is not the only former Madrid man returning to the Bernabeu, with Luis Enrique, fit now after a serious Achilles injury, ready to take up a position in attack rather than his usual midfield berth.
'Luis Enrique is not just another player. His ambition and determination is contagious with other players,' Antic explained.
'I am very happy to have him on the team.'
Barca are currently 12th in the top-flight, but with nine games to go they could go either way, down towards the danger zone, or up towards the top six who gain entry to European competition.
'It would be very nice to get a Champions League place next season not only because of the money but also because of the prestige it carries,' said Antic.
However his best opportunity of advancing to the most elite of European competitions looks to be by winning this year's edition.
Barca have a proud record to defend, as the only team to have competed in every year of European competition.
After the first leg of their quarter-final against Juventus in Turin, Barca are well placed to qualify for the semi-finals.
A 1-1 draw means the Azulgrana would go through with a goalless draw or by winning next Tuesday's second leg.
Although he is aware of the significance of the Madrid match, Antic admits: 'Tuesday's match against Juventus is a grand final for Barcelona, more important than Saturday's match.'
Barca will be without striker Javier Saviola for the Madrid game, suspended after his red card in last week's defeat by Deportivo La Coruna.
'It is an important loss as he is a crucial player, but following the decision to turn down the appeal, we decided not to continue to contest it,' said Antic.
Both Barca and Madrid lost 4-2 last week, with Antic's side thumped by Depor and the capital side losing dramatically to Sociedad, just five days after they had blitzed Manchester United 3-1 in the Bernabeu.
'I was not surprised by the (Madrid) result,' Antic said.
'In the Primera Liga there are difficult opponents, each rival can cause you problems. It happened to Real just as it had happened to us.'
Antic probably has a dream scenario for Saturday's game, and it would be Barca winning by any score, a result which would further endear him to supporters.
But it will be going some to beat the club's greatest victory against Madrid, a 5-0 thrashing inflicted on the Merengues in February 1974.
Adding further spice to the fixture is the possibility that it will not be their last this season, with a semi-final Champions League meeting very much on the cards.