FCBARCELONA.CAT

04.08.2009 21:19

Abidal values competition with Maxwell

David Saura (special correspondent) / Anna Segura

Maxwell’s arrival at Barça is no major problem for Eric Abidal, but quite the opposite. The Frenchman feels the Brazilian will help the team win more games and titles.

Last season Josep Guardiola showed that every player is crucial for the team’s wins and losses. Therefore, when players arrive to play in certain positions, they are not considered competition. Eric Abidal feels that way about the summer signing of Maxwell.

“Help the team”

Speaking after training on Tuesday, Eric Abidal showed a positive attitude to Maxwell joining the team: “There is no competition between us” he said. “We are here to help the team. We play in the same position and we have to work. But we will play at 200%”.

More effort

Abidal feels Maxwell is so good that “he’ll make things more difficult for me. It will do me good because I like to work and with a player of his level, I’ll have to work even harder than ever.” The full back believes Maxwell has a ‘different’ style of play, especially in terms of skill. “I’m not from Brazil” he laughed.

Madrid’s signings

The latest big story in Spanish football is Xabi Alonso signing for Madrid. But Abidal would rather concentrate on the work his own team is doing in the United States. “We have signed Ibra” he pointed out. He also reminded listeners that Madrid is not the only team they have to think about. “There are other teams as well” he said.