The youngest player on Barcelona's roster, Bojan Krkic, has demanded respect for Ronaldinho. He also spoke about the club's need for improvement.
2007 was a disastrous year for Barcelona in almost every way.
In the first half, they conspired to throw away a league title that many believed they had wrapped up. Then, in the second half, despite some big signings, they struggled to make it as a team, coming in distant second to an ever-improving Real Madrid.
Now they have a mountain left to climb, and Bojan Krkic admits that there is a need for some serious improvement.
"We have not set any concrete targets for ourselves, but we are conscious that there is a need to improve in the new year," said the youngster.
"We must work daily, and fight until the finish."
Personally, however, Bojan has enjoyed the best season of his life, starring with Spain's under-17 team, and having impressed in the Barcelona senior team shirt.
And with Lionel Messi out injured, Ronaldinho out of form, and Samuel Eto'o off to the African Nations Cup, many expect him to become a regular starter over the next six weeks.
"It has been the best year of my life," he admitted. "The idea now is to stay at the same level, at the very least. I am already living a dream playing at this level, and slowly but surely, I am getting even better."
Finally, he spoke about Ronaldinho, who has come in for some very heavy criticism, with things sinking to a real low last Sunday, when he was abused at the airport.
"He deserves respect for everything he has given to this club," he argued. "I work with him daily and he continues to surprise me.
"He is the same as he always was. He can still do things that nobody else can, and is a player any club would want to have in their team."
Strong words
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