FCBARCELONA.CAT

09.02.2010 13:46

Maxwell's hour

Anna Segura

Given the absentees in defence, Maxwell appears likely to play at left back in the Vicente Calderón with Abidal out injured. The Brazilian is confident that the team will not miss those players who are out.

At the start of the week it seemed that Maxwell could well be in the running to replace Daniel Alves at right back. However, following Éric Abidal's injury on Tuesday, the blaugrana defender seems set to play in his natural position of left back.

Nevertheless, before the extent of Abidal's injury was known, Maxwell stated in a press conference that he was happy was to play wherever coach Pep Guardiola wanted.

New experience

Although he’d played 45 minutes in the Cup at right back before Saturday’s game, Maxwell admitted that playing there: “was a new experience. The movements are the same, but I’m used to looking to the different side, so it’s a bit complicated – it’s like going to England and driving on the left!”

Confidence

Maxwell is confident ahead of eth Madrid game, in spite of the absences in defence: “we have a squad capable of overcoming this. It’s always hard to lose quality players, they’ve all been playing regularly too, but we all know we have the depth of squad to manage”.

Focussed on a win

Games between Atletico Madrid and Barcelona tend to be something special and very intense, but Maxwell insisted that the team are just focussed on winning : “ that will be a big step forward for us, as we’re in good form and we want to maintain that. We hope to be better than them”.

No comment!

Once again the question of referees and their supposed favouritism to Barca came up, but Maxwell echoed the other players, the boss and the President:”we just don’t talk about that. It’s something that the press have whipped up and we are just ignoring it and focussing on doing our jobs. The six titles we won were clearly deserved, the team have played spectacular football”.