De Boer's stinging rebuke for Smith and Leeds

Alan Smith's cherubic face always did mask a volcanic temperament. David O'Leary hoped he had exorcised what he termed the "thug" in the 19-year-old Leeds United striker during the summer and Kevin Keegan thought him sufficiently reformed to put him on the England bench in Paris. Frank de Boer tells a different story.

Alan Smith's cherubic face always did mask a volcanic temperament. David O'Leary hoped he had exorcised what he termed the "thug" in the 19-year-old Leeds United striker during the summer and Kevin Keegan thought him sufficiently reformed to put him on the England bench in Paris. Frank de Boer tells a different story.

In the aftermath of Leeds' 4-0 rout by Barcelona, in a Champions' League initiation which became a Catalan inquisition here on Wednesday, the Dutch defender condemned as "unacceptable" Smith's first-minute lunge on Rivaldo and the high challenge which forced the substitution of Phillip Cocu.

Smith had expressed a desire to swap shirts with Rivaldo. In the event he kept his own after taking an altogether more sinister trophy. De Boer, who scored the second goal, said: "I wasn't impressed by any of the Leeds team, but Smith was far too aggressive. He was mean and I don't like that.

"You can play hard but what he did was unacceptable. It wasn't just the foul on Rivaldo or the one on Cocu, when he should have been sent off. Whenever the ball was gone, Smith went on to hit the opponent's legs."

De Boer added: "If he is going to become a top player he has to calm down. That's not the way to play. Leeds are a young side. Now they know how difficult this competition is. They seemed intimidated. It wasn't surprising because of the players they had missing. Maybe it will be tougher over there but they were too naïve. They also tried to stop Rivaldo by fouling him, but it worked the other way and made him want to show how good he is."

Michael Duberry, who recovered from being dummied by the Brazilian for the opening goal to defend defiantly, also felt Leeds needed to grow up in a hurry. "We shouldn't keep dwelling on this 'young' stuff. We're men and we have to go out and battle. Barcelona are a world-class team but we didn't impose ourselves enough. They had it all their own way."

Lucas Radebe, carried off with his neck in a brace after a collision with Duberry, proved not to be seriously hurt. Leeds are monitoring the captain's condition ahead of tomorrow's visit by Ipswich and their second Group H fixture, at home to Milan next Tuesday.

Leeds have suffered an uncommonly high casualty rate. However, the sight of Danny Hay and Tony Hackworth making debuts as substitutes - a function performed by the experienced David Hopkin and Alf-Inge Haaland before they were somewhat hastily off-loaded - perhaps highlighted a gaucherie O'Leary has often claimed for himself but which critics view as false modesty.

In truth, Leeds' embarrassment could have been far more acute. Only a catalogue of missed chances by Barcelona and several desperate saves by Nigel Martyn kept the margin down. They were also fortunate that Rivaldo, having given a masterclass in combining the roles of schemer and striker, eased up. And how much more morale-sapping the scoreline might have been had Patrick Kluivert not waited until the final 15 minutes before exploding into goalscoring life.

Barcelona demonstrated that they are genuine contenders for the European crown held by their most bitter rivals, Real Madrid. Their exploitation of the flanks - despite being ordered by Uefa to narrow the pitch by seven yards - was a throwback to thrill those who mourn the demise of wing play.

Although each club have five matches left, Barça and Milan are already vying for top position. Meanwhile, the back-to-back meetings of Leeds and Besiktas appear likely to decide third place and the Uefa Cup qualification it brings.