Don't Count Them Out Yet

Cameroonian international striker, 3 time African Player of the Year, reigning Spanish League goalscoring champ, and 2005/6 Champions League Forward of the Year, Samuel Eto'o returned triumphantly to Barca's starting lineup on Sunday against Atletico Bilbao after 4 months on the sidelines recovering from a knee injury suffered in a Champions League match with Werder Bremen. Two weeks ago, Eto'o's much anticipated return to the pitch at the Camp Nou in the final minutes of a league match was abruptly aborted when Eto'o refused to take the field. A media frenzy ensued, pitting Eto'o against his coach, Rijkaard, and Ronaldinho in a battle of press statements. The club insisted that the matter had been settled quickly by the team captains and that the media were making too much of what had been a series of miscommunications. But the following week, Barca suffered a difficult loss at home to Liverpool in a match in which Eto'o sat in the spectators seats. The Spanish media followed with several stories (complete with pictures ) questioning whether Ronaldinho had become fat like his fellow Brazillian footballer, Ronaldo. On Sunday, Ronaldinho had an answer for his critics about his fitness. The sign which starts the video is roughly translated, “Ronaldinho is not fat, We are.”. The Blaugrana seem to be regaining last year's form as they gird up for the most difficult two week stretch of their season with the second legs of their tournament ties against Real Zaragoza in the Spanish Copa Del Rey, and Liverpool in the Champions League, as well as league matches against second place Sevilla and arch rivals Real Madrid. This is good news for all Poolers save Eastern Influence whose maverick Liverpool pick has them sitting in the catbird's seat.