Puyol (2): "Guardiola is obsessed"

In an interview with Catalan newspaper El Periódico, Barcelona captain Carles Puyol talked about the start of the new season.





Messi is still very Messi.
Leo is one of the best players in the world. We already knew that. Every games he shows something special. He's in great shape.

Messi on one side, Iniesta on the other. And Xavi behind them.
It's incredible. Those two are both also going through a great period. It's spectacular to see them play. Sometimes during training sessions I say to them: "If you would play against me, you sure would receive some death kick." Because you have the feeling you're gonna get the ball, but at the last moment they're getting away. You don't know how but they always get away. They're really great. Sometimes, during a game, you think: "Incredible, look how they're playing!" How much would it cost to sign these guys if they would be playing with another team? You couldn't pay them.

You're again enjoying the game?
Yes, but we should go step by step. Without losing our head when we lose, like happened against Numancia, nor losing focus now the results are good. We're only starting but it looks good so far.

All the captains - you, Xavi, Valdés and Iniesta - are all youth products.
That's a good signal, it means the youth academyy is working well, that important players are coming out of it who can compete at a big club like Barcelona. Are we the ones who have the lead the team? We cannot do that alone. We all have to put our grain but we're the ones who know the club best.

And now there's also a coach from the house.
We should let him do his job. We shouldn't compare him with anybody. He has learnt from all the coaches he had and from all the competitions in which he has played. He's obesessed, he wants to control every detail. He's very motivated and enthusiastic. We should let him find his way.

After winning the European cup with the Spanish national team this summer, it seems you have regained the confidence.
I was already feeling very good during the last months of the previous season, even after a difficult year. I started last season coming back from a bad knee injury. It was the first day of the holidays. Coming back from a friendly game in South Africa they told me that I needed surgery. I didn't accept it, I broke down, it was a very hard time. In the end, you have friends who give you the strength to go ahead. You can only end up thinking that you're a priviliged person. You're doing what you like best, playing football, and you're doing that with the best club in the world. What can you ask more? After the rain, there's always sunshine.

This was the second and last part of this interview. You can read the first part here:

Puyol (1): "This team is very hungry"