[Dekalog]

Drop me, begs Abidal as trouble at Barça continues

Marcus Christenson
Wednesday April 16, 2008
The Guardian


The turmoil that has afflicted Barcelona in recent weeks continued yesterday when the full-back Eric Abidal begged the coach, Frank Rijkaard, to drop him because he is not playing well enough.

Manchester United's Champions League opponents have not had the best of times recently with one high-ranking official suggesting last week that the club had claimed that some players were injured when in fact they had been ostracised because they had been "out partying" too much. Barça are nine points behind Real Madrid in La Liga and yesterday Abidal disclosed his unusual wish to be put on the substitutes' bench.

"I try to be 100% but my results are not satisfactory," the left-back said. "If I see that I'm not at the highest level, my responsibility obliges me to tell the coach not to play me." Abidal added he has struggled to adapt to the Spanish culture and later kick-off times since arriving from the French club Lyon in the summer. "Before I handled it better but playing at 10 at night ... is something that has affected me."
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Err...

 

[.BLAUGRANA.]

Hmm. 41 views and no replies.

At first I applauded him for his honesty. Then upon second thought I found his remarks a bit worrying. Still it seems to make sense to some extent. A guy I know who is French and very closely follows L1 saw him just weeks ago with us and said he looked out of place. So this really doesn't come as any surprise to me. Again though, I applaud his honesty in that he says he should be dropped because he's not good enough. How many players would ever say that. Still it's troubling though and you have to wonder WTF management (and I specifically mean Rijkaard and Neeskens, assuming the latter is still with the club) is doing.

 

[Filipe Reis]

I don't see any braveness in Abidal's words. On the contrary I see a very poor attempt to shy away from his responsibility as a professional footballer. It is not up to him to say if he is fit or in form.

 

[Jeffrey]

This is something I would do. To know that my actions will dictate the feelings of so many would be an immense burden to carry. I wouldn't be able to relax, and in my anxiety my form would suffer. Thus the fans would hate me.

BLAUGRANA, your last few avatars have been pleasant. Admittedly I didn't know who that woman was , although if I would be presumptuous enough to judge, she seemed to have a calm spirit. And this bird reminds me of this

 

[Pretty Boy]

I don't see any braveness in Abidal's words. On the contrary I see a very poor attempt to shy away from his responsibility as a professional footballer. It is not up to him to say if he is fit or in form.

Must say i agree with this post, he obviously isnt confident in his own abilities and that is worrying at this level.

 

[CarlosMiguel]

I don't see any braveness in Abidal's words. On the contrary I see a very poor attempt to shy away from his responsibility as a professional footballer. It is not up to him to say if he is fit or in form.

I disagree, it is up to him to say if he is fit or in form. It's his body and he knows it the best. That being said, it is NOT up to him to decide if he should or should not be left out of the team. He has to accept the decision of the manager.

What's clear is that he is saying that a culture of work does not exist in this club right now and you can see the difference from when he started the season to now. At the beginning, this guy was incredible, unbeatable, now he looks a true shadow of himself and i think the reasons are clear.

 

[Josué]

I don't see any braveness in Abidal's words. On the contrary I see a very poor attempt to shy away from his responsibility as a professional footballer. It is not up to him to say if he is fit or in form.

Rarely agree with you, but you hit the nail on the head here.

Sure, it's all "nice" when a guy is willing to do what's best for the team, but like you said, that's the job of the manager. A player could score own goal after own goal, and at no point should he ask to come out or to not play.

They're professionals, are paid ridiculously well, and are expected to at least keep trying; not throw in the bloody towel like this.

Shameful stuff from Abidal.

 

[hypno]

Barca fans make me laugh...
You seem not to understand that the intensive pressure the socios put on the team staff and players is way too nefast.

Put less pressure on your beloved Barca, it will only get better naturally...

 

[Josué]

Barca fans make me laugh...
You seem not to understand that the intensive pressure the socios put on the team staff and players is way too nefast.

Put less pressure on your beloved Barca, it will only get better naturally...

What a bunch of utter nonsense.

I despise this club as much as the next guy, but it's a massive club and the saying is true for them and us...

IF YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE HEAT, GET OUT OF THE KITCHEN.

You can't ask fans to change, they're used to the (second)best and will always demand that. Expectations come with reaching new levels of competition, and Abidal is openly admitting he can't handle that.

 

[Robin]

Fuera Abidal!

 

[VBI]

I wouldn't mind him truly thinking like this, if he's putting the team before himself, but you DON'T say it in public. Jesus, if he plays the next game, the opponents will PLOUGH into him knowing he doesn't think he's in form enough to deal with it.

 

[Barcamaniac]

I liked him in the beginning. He made a good impression.
But this is just pathetic from him. And the excuse about late kickoff is one of the worst I heard.

And if he still had to tell Frank about this, he didn't have to go public with it (but that's still pathetic IMO).

 

[Youngie]

I wouldn't mind him truly thinking like this, if he's putting the team before himself, but you DON'T say it in public. Jesus, if he plays the next game, the opponents will PLOUGH into him knowing he doesn't think he's in form enough to deal with it.

I agree don't say it in public.

So Abidal's excuse is that he has to play at 10pm....

Sell him ASAP. All we need is another moaner like his French colleague Henry.

He should be benched though. Sylvinho should be a starter.

 

[Hectorious]

what a ****, if he say this shit in atleti the fans will make him go crazy in calderon.... culture and kickoff?? give me a ****ing break

 

[VBI]

It is odd to be playing games at 10 to be fair.

 

[Hectorious]

dude last night i had a match at 11:10, is more then fine

 

[Ramallets]

It is odd to be playing games at 10 to be fair.

I agree, they're crazy in Spain with those late kick offs. 10.00pm, what the fvck? :sleepy:

 

[Youngie]

Someone else complained about playing at 10pm because he would usually be in bed at that time at his former club.

Can't remember who though.

 

[PetritH]

Remember when we played at 12:05 AM against Mallorca or im wrong ?

 

[mali]

oh!
already?
abidal is a shit now?
tssss
barça fans...
well.