Former Barcelona captain Carles Puyol said he believes Real Madrid could become stronger after Mourinho takes over, but he also emphasized that Barcelona is eager to win the La Liga title again.

Puyol said during a video conference with international media organized by ESPN: "We're talking about a great coach (Mourinho). I saw him when I was at La Masia, before I was promoted to the first team. It was clear to us back then that he had a deep understanding of football. Then he built a brilliant coaching career and took over Real Madrid at a time when we were in the fiercest competition, and I still remember those very intense confrontations."

"In those years, Guardiola and Mourinho, Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, both teams were very strong. Currently, in my opinion, Barcelona has a very good team and is capable of having an outstanding season. However, with Mourinho, Real Madrid might become stronger."

Puyol also praised Flick's coaching and high defensive line at Barcelona, saying: "I love playing with a high defensive line, which requires the involvement of the entire team, not just the defenders. If there's no pressure on the ball carrier, they will create many problems."

He continued: "Rodri's arrival is good news for Barcelona. He is one of the best midfielders in the world. I was fortunate to see him play in person at the World Cup, and I admire him greatly. He can bring strong balance to the team and is also a perfect fit for Barcelona's style of play."

He added: "He has proven this with Spain's national team and under Guardiola at Manchester City. He will be of great help to Barcelona; this position is very important, and now Barcelona's midfield will be much stronger."

Puyol also spoke about Busquets returning to Barcelona, this time as a youth coach. He said: "This surprised me a bit, because I thought he would need a bit more time before starting to coach, but it seems this is his destiny. He can bring many tactical things to the youth academy, plus his rich experience. He is a great leader and an outstanding captain. Gaining experience at this stage will be very beneficial for him."

Puyol took the opportunity to show support for his former teammate Messi. Messi is going through a difficult time after his father passed away, and Puyol said: "Leo (Messi), stay strong and keep a good mindset. I've already told him personally. We all love him and will stand by him and his family."

He continued: "I was amazed by what he achieved at age 39. He is an undisputed leader, and Argentina reached the World Cup final because of Messi, as Argentina's performance was inconsistent. But in the final 30 minutes of every match, it's always Leo (Messi) who takes control, even in the final, where Spain actually played better. They also created chances in the final minutes and were very threatening."

He added: "To me, he is the greatest of all time, and a role model for all young players at the start of their careers."

The former defender also recalled his favorite El Clásico, the match in 2009 when Barcelona defeated Real Madrid 6-2 and nearly secured the La Liga title. He said: "I've played many El Clásicos, but the 6-2 match is the most memorable for me."

He then stated: "It was a very difficult season, and Guardiola's first year managing us. We played well in the first half of the season, but Real Madrid closed the gap. With 4 games remaining, we were 4 points behind, and that big win almost handed the title to us."

Puyol also said he supports La Liga matches being held outside Spain. He said: "There has been discussion for years about playing matches abroad. It's always difficult for the home team to lose, but it's also an opportunity for fans who follow our league to watch matches in person. If the clubs and La Liga decide to do this, I think it's a good idea."

Puyol emphasized that Barcelona star Yamal has everything needed to help Spain win the World Cup again and help Barcelona win more titles, but he must focus on football.

He said: "There is a lot of external information about Yamal. What I see is a quiet, competitive, and humble kid. I see him as a very competitive player, but we need to make him understand that he has won the World Cup and important titles, but he still needs to continue improving himself and strive to add more trophies to his list of honors."

He concluded: "Spain has everything it needs. This is a very young team with great potential. Winning one World Cup is already an incredible achievement; winning two would be extraordinary. If there's a generation of players that can do it, it's this current group. This is also what I want to try to do and inspire them to achieve."

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