Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard played down his obvious frustration with referee Stefano Farina after his team's 2-2 home draw against Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday. "I never talk about the referees but one team was kicking the other team and wasting time," the Dutchman told reporters after the game. "Chelsea are a very good, albeit an aggressive, side. It was a pitched battle - it was very interesting," he added. It was a painful sight for Rijkaard and the capacity crowd Nou Camp Stadium when Didier Drogba netted the equalizer for Chelsea deep into injury time. "Those extra six minutes worked very well for Chelsea. They committed most of the fouls and wasted the time but got the benefit," said Rijkaard. Rijkaard had to be restrained by Barcelona captain Carles Puyol after the final whistle as not to confront Farina, but the former AC Milan player insisted he did not blame the Italian referee for the outcome of the game. "He blew up one minute before he should have done but I'm not blaming that for the result.
Mourinho celebrating Drogba's equalizer "It was a battle on the pitch and it was very interesting during the game and I went on because I wanted to thank the referee for his participation." Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho took a shot at Rijkaard and his players, saying: "I think Frank Rijkaard is a lucky manager because his Barcelona stars are protected match after match." However, Rijkaard appeared to be the bigger man when he refused to comment on the Portuguese manager's over-the-edge celebration after Drogba's goal. "I was surprised by his reaction. Obviously he was happy. It makes no sense for me to comment on him," said Rijkaard. He did admit though that Barcelona's players have to get their act together and win their next to games against Werder Bremen and Levski Sofia to book their place in the knockout stage. The draw dropped Barcelona to third place in Group A on five points, two adrift of second place Bremen. "There's no margin for error now. We have to beat both teams and win our last two games,” he said. "We just have to do it.”
