Dubai: Barcelona are favourites to win the Uefa Champions League after their Last 16 comeback win over Paris Saint-Germain, according to the club’s former captain Carles Puyol.
The Spaniards were 4-0 down to PSG after the first leg in France but then returned to win 6-1 at home earlier this month, progressing 6-5 on aggregate. They now face Juventus in next month’s quarter-finals.
“After the comeback win, Barcelona are considered the favourites,” said Puyol, who was speaking on the sidelines of the duFC finals at Dubai Mall on Saturday, where he was guest of honour.
“A comeback like this gives you strength and more motivation to keep going and fight for the trophy.
“After trailing 4-0, logically they had more possibilities to get eliminated than to advance. But they believed, they fought for it, and they came back, and now they are favourites to win in my opinion,” added the former defender, who made almost 400 appearances for Barca between 1999 and 2014, winning six La Liga and three Uefa Champions League titles.
The 38-year-old one-club-man, who also won the World Cup and European Championship in 100 appearances for Spain between 2000 and 2013, said the next round wouldn’t be easy.
“They showed that one bad day can cost them dearly, so they have to concentrate because all knockouts are going to be very difficult. Juventus are a very tough opponent and Barcelona have to play at a very high level to stop them.”
Barca coach Luis Enrique announced that he was leaving at the end of the season following the 4-0 first leg defeat to PSG, but Puyol warned against the players thinking too far ahead regarding a successor.
“Right now, there are still important things to focus on, you have to live in the present and near future. There are still many months ahead of them. It’s important to stay focused now to try and win all the titles.”
‘All the titles’ could include the Uefa Champions League, where they are in the Last Eight, La Liga, where they are five points behind Real Madrid with 11 games remaining and the Copa Del Rey, where they are in the final against Alaves.
Puyol also had some words of encouragement for his former Barca coach Pep Guardiola, whose Manchester City side were knocked out in the Last 16 of the Uefa Champions League with a 6-6 away goals defeat to Monaco last week.
City are also third in the Premier League 13 points behind leaders Chelsea with 11 games to go. Their only hope of silverware this season is in the FA Cup where they play Arsenal in the semi-finals, having been earlier knocked out in the fourth round of the League Cup.
“I think he’s doing a good job,” said Puyol of Guardiola, whom he played under at the Nou Camp for five years from 2008 to 2012. “It’s always tough arriving in a new league, with a new mentality and with a very different style of football.
“I’m certain he will win titles with Man City in the future and that they will play brilliant football, the Pep style of play. But you have to go step-by-step and have some patience.”
