FCBARCELONA.CAT

16.08.2007 13:47

Abidal: "We have to maintain our balance"

Anna Segura

Éric Abidal is proud to be part of such an attacking team at FC Barcelona, but believes that the players must remember to continue finding a balance that does not allow them to be caught on the break.

Since joining from Lyon, the French international has settled in very quickly with the Blaugrana and is adapting to the new tactics under coach Frank Rijkaard. Despite his enjoyment at racing forward to help build attacks, Abidal recognised that he knows his defensive responsibilities too. "We have to maintain balance throughout so as not to be punished by counter-attacks," he said.

Ball work

After his first few days at the club, Abidal stated that training at Barça was very different to the way things were done at Lyon. "The difference between the two is that during the first two weeks of pre-season training in France you do not see a football," he explained. "But in the end, everything ends up with the same outcome."

No worries

Reflecting on Leo Messi's wonder-strike against Bayern Munich on Wednesday, Abidal believes that the Argentinian is "a player of great quality". In pre-season the other three competitors for a forward place in the team, Thierry Henry, Samuel Eto'o and Ronaldinho ahave not had much luck in front of goal. "We do not have to worry," he said. "We have not started playing official games yet and we are only in the preparation stages."

Professionalism

On August 21 it will be one month since the Barça squad returned from holidays and Abidal has had a very positive first few weeks at the club. "To work with players of this level makes life a lot easier," he said. "Also the professionalism of the club means that it takes less time to adapt to being here."

Another thing that has surprised Abidal since his arrival as been the "huge number of journalists around and the number of press conferences we have to do".