Frank Rijkaard

Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard insists rumours linking him with the Chelsea job is having no effect on him or his players.

In the wake of Chelsea's recent Carling Cup final defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, speculation abounded that the Stamford Bridge club were targeting the former Holland international as a replacement for manager Avram Grant.

Barcelona suffered their first defeat in 16 games when they lost 4-2 at Atletico Madrid on Saturday night, leaving them five points behind La Liga leaders Real Madrid.

They also needed a late Xavi equaliser to earn them a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final against Valencia in the Nou Camp last week.

Speaking ahead of the Catalan side's Champions League second-leg clash with Celtic at the Nou Camp tomorrow night, Rijkaard, who has been linked with Chelsea in the past, fended off questions about his future.

He said: 'I am aware of the rumours but they are that - rumours - and they have not affected me or my team.

'Right now I am just concentrating on getting results on the pitch.

'I am not thinking about anything else at the moment.'

Barcelona are strong favourites to get through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League after a 3-2 win in the first leg at Celtic Park.