Kylian Mbappe has hard work ahead of him to fully fulfil talent, says Barcelona and France icon Eric Abidal

Matt Jones - Editor 17:37 09/10/2017
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  • Mbappe has the talent to be the best, says Abidal.

    Eric Abidal believes teenage compatriot Kylian Mbappe could one day be as good as the legendary Pele – but the Paris Saint-Germain striker must work “every day” to fulfill his incredible talent.

    Former Barcelona defender Abidal, 38, agrees with Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger that their fellow Frenchman could one day be mentioned in the same breath as the legendary Brazilian, but has warned the precocious talent that his ability is not enough.

    Left-back Abidal, who won two Champions Leagues and four La Liga titles with the Blaugrana in six glorious seasons at the Camp Nou, was speaking at the official draw for the FIFA Club World Cup UAE which took place in Abu Dhabi on Monday.

    Gunners boss Wenger described Mbappe as “the new Pele” last month following his move across Ligue 1 from Monaco, and Les Bleus idol Abidal agrees he could become one of the world’s greatest ever footballers.

    “Yes he can. But I can say also he has to, because he has a lot of talent,” Abidal told reporters at the Fairmont Bab Al Bahr hotel in the capital.

    “He is only 18-years-old. PSG have hired one of the best players of his age so he deserves a good career. But he has to work. Talent is not enough, you have to work every day.

    “And with Neymar and other good players around him he has to learn from them. I’m French and he’s French too so I hope in a few years he wins some titles with his club and maybe in a personal capacity too, like a Ballon d’Or.”

    Abidal won 15 major trophies with Barca, including playing a part in the May 2011 Champions League title success despite having undergone surgery to remove a tumour on his liver two just months earlier.

    It was part of a magical four-year spell under boss Pep Guardiola. And Abidal said it is the now Manchester City manager’s attention to detail that yielded so much success.

    “In the world of football you can talk about very good coaches but details is the most important thing, and that is how you would describe Guardiola,” said 67-times capped French international Abidal.

    “You can have the best players but lose titles, Champions League and big games, only by small margins. This is the mindset of Guardiola. To him the small details are the most important thing needed to win a championship.”

    Abidal was on hand at the FIFA Club World Cup UAE draw.

    Comparisons are often drawn between the Barca sides that won the Champions League titles in 2009 and 2011. Abidal would not be drawn on which he believed was better but said the Guardiola era at the club as special for football.

    “It was maybe one of the best times for the football industry and also the club,” said Abidal who won the 2009 and 2011 Club World Cup titles with Barca.

    “We had an opportunity to win six trophies in one year (2009) and be an example to other clubs, but the most important thing is the team, how you live during the season and this is the victory. If you can achieve it then the games are easy.

    “Now is not the time to talk because it’s the start of the season. I know the mindset of the club is always to win titles. The players will never be any different. Barca is Barca and they will fight every year to win titles.

    “But they know Real Madrid are also fighting and the smallest teams always want to beat Barcelona too so they have to be focused. Like Mbappe they have to work every day to achieve this.”

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