Source: Daily_Mail
Abidal lifts the trophy just months after being diagnosed with cancer
ShareBarcelona decided to let defender Eric Abidal lift the trophy a few months after he was diagnosed with cancer.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.'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. What a moment: Eric Abidal lifts the trophy and celebrates with his Barcelona teammates In a gesture symbolising Barcelona's team ethic, Carles Puyol handed thearmband over to Abidal.'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.'Abidal has said how he feared that he might never play football again and how he sees life differently now.'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. Three amigos: Andres Iniesta, Seydou Keita and Eric Abidal pose next to the trophy '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.'I see everything differently now. Being a professional footballer gives you an incredible quality of life.'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.' 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 Explore more:People: Pep Guardiola Places: Barcelona, France