Former Barcelona captain Carles Puyol believes Real Madrid could become stronger under Mourinho's management, but he also emphasized that Barcelona is hungry to reclaim the La Liga title.

Puyol spoke during an online press conference with international media organized by ESPN: "We're talking about a tremendous coach (Mourinho). I saw him when he was at Barcelona's youth academy, before being promoted to the first team. Even back then, it was clear he had a deep understanding of football. Later, he built a brilliant coaching career and took over Real Madrid at a time when we were in the most intense competitive period. I still remember that fierce rivalry vividly."

"In those years, it was Guardiola and Mourinho, Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, and both teams were extremely strong. Currently, in my opinion, Barcelona has a very good squad with the potential for an excellent season. However, with Mourinho, Real Madrid could become even stronger."

Puyol also praised Flick's coaching style at Barcelona and his high defensive press, saying: "I love playing with a high defensive line, which requires commitment from the entire team, not just the defenders. Without pressure on the ball carrier, they will cause many problems."

He added: "Rodri's arrival is great news for Barcelona. He is one of the best midfielders in the world. I had the honor of watching him play directly at the World Cup, and I greatly admire him. He can bring excellent balance to the team and is perfectly suited to Barcelona's playing style."

He continued: "He has proven this with the Spanish national team and under Guardiola at Manchester City. He will be very helpful for Barcelona; this position is crucial, and now Barcelona's midfield will be significantly stronger."

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

Puyol took the opportunity to express support for his former teammate Messi. Messi is going through a difficult period following his father's death, and Puyol said: "Leo (Messi), stay strong and keep a positive attitude. I've spoken to him privately. We all love him and will stand by him and his family."

He continued: "I'm amazed at what he has achieved at age 39. He is an undeniable leader, and Argentina reached the World Cup final because of Messi, given that Argentina's performances were inconsistent. But in the final minutes of every match, it was always Leo (Messi) in control, even in the final, where Spain actually played better. They also created chances and were very dangerous in those final minutes."

He added: "For 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 Clásico, the 2009 match in which Barcelona defeated Real Madrid 6-2, effectively clinching the La Liga title. He said: "I played in many Clásicos, but the 6-2 match is the most memorable for me."

He then said: "It was an extremely difficult season, and it was Guardiola's first year coaching us. We played well in the first half of the season, but Real Madrid was closing the gap. With four matches remaining, we were four points ahead, and that big win effectively secured the title for us."

Puyol also stated that he supports La Liga matches being held outside Spain. He said: "The discussion about holding matches abroad has been going on for years. It's always difficult for the home team when they lose, but it's also an opportunity for fans to watch our league live. If the clubs and La Liga decide to do it, I think it's a good idea."

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

He said: "There's a lot of talk about Yamal. What I see is a calm, competitive, and humble boy. I see him as a very competitive player, but we must make him understand that while he has already won the World Cup and important titles, he still needs to continue improving and strive to add many more titles to his collection."

He concluded: "Spain has everything it needs. This is a very young team with a promising future. Winning one World Cup is a remarkable achievement; winning two would be incredible. If any generation of players can do it, it's this current group. This is what I want to try and inspire them to do."

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