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Seydou Keita Happy With Barcelona Midfield Role

He says he 'relearned how to play midfield' at Camp Nou...

Oct 27, 2009 6:42:16 AM

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Seydou Keita

Barcelona midfielder Seydou Keita says he is happy with his more attack-minded midfield role at the club and says the support of coach Pep Guardiola has helped him to develop as a footballer.

Following a hat-trick against Real Zaragoza at the weekend The Mali international has taken his goal tally for the season to five and Keita told Sport that he aims to continue repaying the support from the coach and the fans.

"My football is to defend, help my team-mates and win balls. At Barcelona I have had to change, I had to relearn how to play more forward, step up the field," he said.

"After the first goal I relaxed and I began to try things that until now I thought I wouldn't be able. I am making the best of myself. The support from the stands has helped a lot. I feel obliged to return all this confidence from the coach [Guardiola] and the fans.

"I respect the coach a lot because he always respected me. Managing all these stars and their egos is not easy. The players are not children and when we see that everyone is treated equally and that the coach respects everyone we return the favour."

Paul Madden, Goal.com