FCBARCELONA.CAT

04.12.2007 20:23

Abidal: “We can hold our heads up high”

Jesús Carrillo

French international Eric Abidal was pleased with the performance against Espanyol and thinks Barça’s form away from the Camp Nou is set to improve.

Eric Abidal focused a large part of his press conference on the game at Montjuïc, where he said “we came out of the Espanyol game with our heads held high. I think we played a good game. As it was a derby I tried to stand apart. We got a point and I think that was a good result for us”.

Fitness

Abidal was asked about fitness, and said “I did say at first that physical preparation is different. In France, for example, you don’t touch a ball until fifteen days into the pre-season, and work more on physical aspects. That doesn’t mean people work the wrong way here, they are looking for the same results in different ways. Physically, the team is fine and I have not spotted any problems in that respect”.

Henry and Eto'o

Abidal was also asked about two of his colleagues. “I think he [Henry] has done well to stop. It is sometimes best to take your foot off the gas in order to be better when you return”. And moving onto the Cameroonian, Abidal said “it is important for him to be totally fit. It is best for him and the team because we need all our players, and that includes Eto'o.”

Euro 2008

Asked about the European Championship and France’s daunting draw against Italy, Holland and Romania, Abidal said “I don’t think it is the Group of Death”. He thinks all four sides have every chance of making the next round.