Éric Abidal has demanded caution over the seven point lead the team have established over Real Madrid, warning: “a defeat can come along when you least expect it and that could leave Madrid right behind us again”.
The fans’ euphoria over the big lead the team have established over their eternal rivals at
the top of La Liga isn’t matched amongst the players, who are determined to keep a clear head
and focus on the next few months of hard work they’ll need to put in. Abidal insisted at a
press conference at the Ciutat Esportiva this lunchtime: “seven points are not many. If we
lose a couple of games, they’ll be right on our tails. We have to just keep working to try
and win, there are a lot of games left and we shouldn’t be looking at what other teams are up
to”•.
Guardiola’s message
The French defender explained that Guardiola, who had a long talk with
his squad before training this morning, had made it clear that:
“if we end up not winning anything, it will be our own fault. I know that if we carry
on working as we have from the start of the season, it’s tough for anybody to beat us, or for
another team to win the title”.
Keep the lead
The players are clear on the need to maintain their current lead though and Abidal
believes that it’s not time to draw too many conclusions just yet: “there are still 17
games to go and that’s a lot. In 10 or 11 games time maybe we can look at where Madrid are in
relation to us”.
Good form
On an individual level, Abidal is enjoying some great form and has been
filling in for the injured Carles Puyol at centre back, but he puts his own performances down to
the fact that: “the whole group is playing well. Things are working out fine for me”
and although he admitted he preferred playing at full back, “the confidence the boss has in
me is key. Also playing so many games means you get into a dynamic, you get on the right track and
it’s easier to play”.
Keen to stay
Éric Abidal also commented on his ongoing contract negotiations with the club,
explaining:
“I want to finish my career here. I’m only 31 and football goes very fast.
I’m studying what the Club have offered, but I feel fine here and I want to stay”.
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Almeria
Although the questions at the press conference focussed primarily on the Madrid defeat and the
distance between the two top teams, Abidal also spoke about Wednesday’s Cup semi final second
leg, echoing his earlier caution, despite the 5-0 lead from the first leg: “we have to go and
play the game, then we’ll see who we face in any final”. A final that could see Barça
up against Real Madrid, an option which for Abidal: “doesn’t matter – who you
play isn’t important, it’s winning that counts. This is a title that we want”.