Abidal motivated by Milan menace

Prolific pair
In Andriy Shevchenko and Filippo Inzaghi, Milan boast the most prolific attacking pair currently in European competition. Coach Carlo Ancelotti can also call on the services of Italian international Alberto Gilardino, while Brazilian playmaker Kaká is one of the game's finest creative talents. But rather than be intimidated by Milan's star names, Abidal is determined to rise to the challenge. "I'm certainly not scared," said the French international. "If anything, it makes me even more motivated. These are the kind of games every player wants to be involved in and I'm looking forward to it."

'Extremely vigilant'
Abidal has been employed both at left-back and in the middle by coach Gérard Houllier this term, but with Patrick Müller and Claudio Caçapa now competing for central defensive duty alongside Cris, he looks certain to play at full-back. "It's up to the coach to decide where I play, but whether it's in the middle or on the left I'll have to be extremely vigilant," the 26-year-old said. "Against Milan the danger will come from many different areas. In this kind of game you have to keep your concentration because the slightest error is likely to prove costly."

Abidal confidence
Yet such is the confidence at the Stade Gerland these days, Abidal is keen to focus more on Lyon's strengths than on the opposition's. "They have some wonderful players but we have a strong team too," he said. "We're at home and it's up to us to impose our style. If we defend well as a team then there's every chance we will score ourselves."

Injury setback
Despite a spate of defensive injuries, Lyon have remained solid in Europe this season, conceding just four goals in the group stage. Abidal was a frustrated spectator for most of that period after sustaining a foot injury in pre-season then aggravating the problem on international duty in November. "I've missed five months of competition so it's not been an easy season for me," he said. "But I feel fine now and it's a pleasure to be playing regularly again."

'A different world'
The return to fitness of the former LOSC Lille Métropole man will also have pleased his coach. Abidal has wasted no time rediscovering his commanding form of last term, excelling in the 5-0 aggregate success over PSV Eindhoven in the first knockout round. "I feel like I've progressed a lot during my time here," Abidal reflected. "It's a different world to the one I was used to at Lille. Lyon are a bigger club and it's fantastic to be playing in the Champions League every season."

'Tough tests'
With the French champions competing for trophies on three fronts, and the FIFA World Cup approaching fast, Abidal hopes to finish the campaign on a high. "We set ourselves certain objectives at the start of the year and we're still on course," he said. "There's a long way to go and we've some big tests ahead, starting with Milan. But if we keep working hard and give everything on the pitch, we have every chance of going even further."