Abidal lifts the trophy just months after being diagnosed with cancer

29 May 2011 01:31
ShareBarcelona decided to let defender Eric Abidal lift the trophy a few months after he was diagnosed with cancer.[LNB]Manager Pep Guardiola said: 'He had the cancer and he and his family suffered. But he recovered and we all showed how much he mattered to the club and the players. As a coach it is a privilege to train this kind of player.'[LNB]Just two-and-a-half months after undergoing a three-hour operation to remove a tumour from his liver the left-back played the full 90 minutes.[LNB] What a moment: Eric Abidal lifts the trophy and celebrates with his Barcelona teammates [LNB] In a gesture symbolising Barcelona's team ethic, Carles Puyol handed thearmband over to Abidal.[LNB]'Players are human beings,' said Guardiola. 'Carles Puyol's gesture to let Abidal lift the cup was a great one and it will make us stronger. He has suffered like no other player and Carles showed his humanity in making this gesture.'[LNB]Abidal has said how he feared that he might never play football again and how he sees life differently now.[LNB]'When the doctors give you the news you immediately think the absolute worst. Then you wonder if you will be able ever to play football again,' said the 31-year-old defender, who missed the2009 final against Manchester United after being harshly sent off in the semi-final against Chelsea.[LNB] Three amigos: Andres Iniesta, Seydou Keita and Eric Abidal pose next to the trophy [LNB] 'I thought about how when we visit sick children in hospital we always tell them that they have to fight and I knew that message now had to apply to me,' said Abidal, who has won 52 caps for France.[LNB]'I see everything differently now. Being a professional footballer gives you an incredible quality of life.[LNB]'You can buy whatever you want, whenever you want, but when something like this happens to you, you realise that an expensive car, forexample, cannot help you.'[LNB]  Barcelona 3 Manchester United 1: Pedro, Lionel Messi and David Villa crown Barca kings of EuropeJeff Powell: Catalans are no match for the greats of world footballCHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL LIVE: Barcelona 3 Manchester United 1 - all the action from Wembley as it happened[LNB] [LNB]  Explore more:People: Pep Guardiola Places: Barcelona, France

Source: Daily_Mail