FCBARCELONA.CAT

11.05.2007 14:46

“I feel embarrassed”

Sandra Sarmiento

Eto’o recognizes that he felt “helpless” in Getafe’s stadium and that “a big club like Barça cannot give this image.” The Cameroon player has asked for the fans’ support in order to beat Betis.

“If I had been able to open up the ground and put myself inside, I would have done it. I feel embarrassed,” expressed Eto’o at a press conference on Friday following Barça’s elimination from the Copa del rey at the hands of Getafe.

Eto’o, clearly affected by the defeat explained “I didn’t sleep last night, and after the game, I broke down after feeling helpless.” Eto’o compared the situation to that of when Cameroon failed to qualify for the World cup in Germany. “There are days when you question why you do this job. It’s hard, it’s a big hit to take for all who follow Barça. We are lucky enough to still be in the fight for the liga.”

Damaged image

Eto’o knows that the team “didn’t give the image expected from such a big club. A game can be lost, but not like we did yesterday.” The squad will be going through difficult times at the moment, but these things have to be put behind and they have to move on. “The season’s not over. I’m confident and I have faith in the team. I know what we can do, now is the time we have to do it.”

Rallying cry

The fans let the team know their thoughts during the training session this morning the Masia. Eto’o accepts the criticisms: “The supporters have their right to voice their opinions, however, more than ever now, we need them. They’ve never let us down and we are still fighting for the Liga”. The striker believes conclusions should be made after the Liga has finished. “We can’t be divided at the moment, it can’t be every man for themselves.” Eto’o said that without the fans’ support, the Liga is as good as lost “we cannot put right what went wrong, but the Liga is different. I’m asking them please come and give us your support – we will give everything.”