Former Barcelona captain Carles Puyol said he believes Real Madrid could become stronger under Mourinho's leadership, but he also emphasized that Barcelona is eager to win the La Liga title again.
In a video conference organized by ESPN with several international media outlets, Puyol said: "We're talking about a great coach (Mourinho). I met him when I was in the Barcelona youth academy, before I was promoted to the first team. We knew then that he had a deep understanding of football. Later, he built a brilliant coaching career and took over Real Madrid. We were in the most competitive phase at that time, and I still remember those intense confrontations."
"In those years, Guardiola and Mourinho, Messi and Ronaldo, both teams were very strong. In my opinion now, Barcelona has a very good team and the ability to have an excellent season. However, with Mourinho, Real Madrid might be even stronger."
Puyol also praised Flick's coaching at Barcelona and the high press, saying, "I like playing a high press, which requires the whole team to be involved, not just the defenders. If there is no pressure on the player with the ball, they will cause a lot of trouble."
He continued, "Rodri's arrival is very good news for Barcelona. He is one of the best midfielders in the world. I was fortunate enough to see him play live at the World Cup, and I admire him very much. He brings a lot of balance to the team and is very suitable for Barcelona's style of play."
He added: "He proved that with the Spanish national team and with Guardiola's Manchester City. He will help Barca a lot; this position is crucial, and Barca's midfield will be much stronger now."
Puyol also spoke about Busquets' return to Barcelona, this time as a youth coach. He said, "It surprised me a bit because I thought he would need some more time before starting coaching, but it seems like this is his destiny. He can bring a lot of tactical help to the youth academy, plus his rich experience. He is a great leader and an excellent captain. Gaining experience at this stage will be very beneficial for him."
Puyol took the opportunity to offer his support to his former teammate Messi. Messi is going through a difficult time since his father's passing, and Puyol said, "Leo ( Messi ), stay strong and keep a positive attitude. I've already spoken to him privately. We all love him and stand by him and his family."
He continued, "I am amazed by what he has achieved at the age of 39. He is the undisputed leader. Argentina reached the World Cup final because of Messi, because Argentina's performance was inconsistent. But in the last 30 minutes of every game, Leo (Messi) always controlled the situation, even in the final, when Spain actually played better. They created chances in the last few 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 beginning of their careers."
The former defender also recalled his favorite El Clásico, the 6-2 victory Barcelona defeated Real Madrid in 2009, which nearly secured the La Liga title. He said, "I've played in many El Clásicos, but the 6-2 one is the most memorable."
He continued, "It was an extremely difficult season, and it was also Guardiola's first year coaching us. We played very well in the first half of the season, but Real Madrid were closing the gap. With four rounds left, we were four points behind, and that big win almost handed the title to us."
Puyol also stated that he supports holding La Liga matches outside of Spain. He said, "The idea of holding matches abroad has been discussed for many years. It's always difficult for the home team to lose, but it also gives fans who follow our matches an opportunity to watch them live. If the clubs and La Liga decide to do so, I think it's a good idea."
Puyol emphasized that Barcelona star Yamar has everything he needs to help Spain win another World Cup and help Barcelona win more titles, but he must focus on football.
He said: "There is a lot of information about Yamar from the outside world. What I see is a calm, competitive and humble kid. I see him as a very competitive player, but we must make him understand that he has already won the World Cup and other important titles, but he still needs to continue to improve and strive to add more trophies to his trophy cabinet."
He concluded by saying, "Spain has everything. It's a very young and promising team. Winning one World Cup is already a remarkable achievement, winning two would be incredible. If any generation of players has ever done that, it's this group. That's what I want to do to inspire them."
