Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
ABIDAL'S GREAT MARATHON
I've overcome many obstacles, and there're still some left, but...
But, at this point, I've overcome the obstacles well. And if another is to come, I'll try to overcome it if I can.
"And with number 22, Abidal!"
Camp Nou, August 2012
"First, I have to say I'm very, very happy that Abidal can be here with us today.
I have to tell you that, if you're strong and feel like it, we’ll wait for you as long as needed."
I knew the coach were gonna talk about me. That's something that...
Well, I don't like being in the spotlight, and that's why I was hidding myself.
But I was happy because that day I put Barça shirt on again.
Waiting for me as long as needed...
I didn't want to take a long time, but that means the coach, the teammates, and the club love me and wanted to wait me...
Wait for me to play.
ALL STRENGTH TO TITO
I think Tito and I have lived through similar experiences.
Although I suppose we have different opinions.
Well, I don't like to talk a lot.
But there's no need to talk, he already knows what I think.
And I know what he thinks.
I struggle for myself, but for him as well.
ALWAYS OPTIMISTIC
I feel fine.
I had surgery a long time ago.
8 months ago. I've fought a lot and I keep on figthing every day.
It's hard but I've always got the encouragement and been eager to...
To fight and come back.
Sometimes I got up in the morning and it was difficult because my body wasn't used to physical effort.
I was training gradually, but the main target was to come back.
I think setting this target has helped me to fight.
I never thought about stop playing because football, as well as my family, is all my life.
[Theme: "Morning Yearning" by Ben Harper]
A finger's touch upon my lips
It's a morning yearning, it's a morning yearning
Pull the curtains shut, try to keep it dark
But the sun is burning, the sun is burning
The world awakens on the run
And we'll soon be earning, we'll soon be earning
With hopes of better days to come
It's a morning yearning, morning yearning
Like a summer rose, I'm a victim of the fall
But I'm soon returning, soon returning
Your love's the warmest place the sun ever shines
My morning yearning, my morning yearning
A good week.
And hard. But, as Emili [first team physio] told me before going there...
This week would do me good, especially for my mind.
Because you need mental strength to reach a goal.
And he also told me that I had the mindset, but I should work more.
Aran Valley, October 2012
Because your mindset is different in hospital. He thought it was the most important thing.
And every day, when we got the top of a mountain, he told me, 'It's an honor to be here and look at all the things that are still to be seen.'
We're very small in this world, and between the mountains you can say it's true.
It's the way I work. If I finish the training session and I'm not tired, that means I haven't trained well.
And during this week, I took to the training pitch again.
So I got back to this mindset.
Emili controlled me. I had a watch to measure my heart rate.
As I was feeling good, I wanted a harder physical work to prove if I could withstand it.
"Let's make a harder descent to tone the quads, ok?" "Very well." "Come on."
There's time to laugh and there's time to work.
And it did me good, because I had spent many time in Barcelona without going out, in the hospital.
Many time at home with my family, that is good, but sometimes you need to unwind.
That week I unwinded and I laughed a lot with them, because they had muscle soreness after two days but I didn't.
[Theme: "Another Lonely Day" by Ben Harper]
Yes indeed I'm
Alone again
And here comes emptiness
Crashing in
It's either love or hate
I can't find in between
'Cause I've been with witches and I have
Been with a queen
It wouldn't have worked out any way
So now it's just another lonely day, hey, hey
Further along we just may
But for now it's just another lonely day
But now it's just another lonely day, hey, hey
But now it's just another lonely day
I already knew that I would touch the ball.
Just a bit, but...
It was the only thing missing. A footballer without a ball is not a footballer.
And I was looking forward to start again.
A light at the end of the tunnel? For me it was a part of the way.
And from that day on, I knew that...
The way was shorter.
HONOURED TO CAPTAIN AT WEMBLEY
I had fought a lot to come back.
Now we're watching the captain's gesture.
This day was a very important day for me...
Because I knew my parents were at home, and all my relatives (in-laws, uncles, cousins) were watching TV as well.
Wembley, May 2012
And the pleasure of being the first player to lift the cup.
It was a great day because it meant a lot to me.
As Puyi says, it's very difficult to win this competition.
He told me that, when you lift the cup, you feel the world stops.
And it's true.
You're in your own, and no one is in front of you.
First of all, I didn't expect to play this game.
It was a big surprise.
I take this opportunity to thank the coach, Guardiola...
For his confidence. I told him I was ready to play.
I was very glad to be there and help the team to win this title.