5 Questions Barcelona Fans Would Love to Ask Carles Puyol
When Carles Puyol headed out of the Camp Nou exit door in the wake of Andoni Zubizarreta’s sacking, there would’ve surely been a few heavy hearts in Barcelona.
A “captain fantastic” for years and folk hero to the masses, Puyol encompassed everything about Barcelona.
Ben Hayward of Goal noted his words on Facebook: "These three and a half months have given me the opportunity to see the other side of the club. I have learned a lot, I am very grateful, but I want to experience other things from another perspective and from other places."
An admission that hinted at divisions behind the scenes? Hitherto imagined but never really rubber-stamped. Until now.
The swiftness of his exit wasn’t conducive to getting to the bottom of his apparent change of heart.
Let’s take a look at five questions that Barcelona fans would love to ask Puyol.
Why Take the Assistant Sporting-Director Job in the 1st Place?
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Just over three months passed before Puyol decided enough was enough.
Given his standing within the first team as captain, he would have potentially acted as intermediary between the board and players from time to time.
Therefore, he would’ve already had a broad appreciation of the “other side” of the club.
Surely things can’t have changed to such an extent since his appointment?
Will You Ever Come Back as Manager?
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As with Xavi Hernandez, Puyol is the type of quality player who is automatically afforded respect.
During his injury-hit final season as a player, we saw him on the bench shouting instructions to players and telling the youngsters where to be on the pitch, among other managerial actions.
After being a captain, he is already confident enough in himself to be able to exert significant influence.
Perhaps jumping ship was a precursor to learning his coaching badges ready for a return to Barca in a year to 18 months' time?
What Do You Make of Barca’s Defence at the Moment?
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Alongside Gerard Pique, Puyol made up a formidable central-defensive partnership.
However, without the elder statesman alongside him barking orders, we’ve often seen a drop-off in Pique’s quality of performance.
No warrior, Jeremy Mathieu is at least a presence alongside Pique. With the greatest of respect to the excellent Javier Mascherano, you want your centre-backs to be 6'-plus and made of iron.
Would Thomas Vermaelen have been a consideration if Puyol had been in charge of incoming defensive transfers?
As a player who has also deputised at right-back, to see Douglas and Martin Montoya as the only cover for the ageing Dani Alves must be heartbreaking for Puyol.
Has the Atmosphere Become Too Toxic to Consider a Return to Barca?
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Rumour, counter rumour and story after story as to what is going on behind the scenes.
What is the inside track? Is the atmosphere really as toxic as has been suggested?
Given that there are pictures and stories of Puyol visiting Italy circulating, his future in both the short and longer term may lie away from Camp Nou.
If so, why is that?
Can it really be true that the manager isn’t talking to the players—that a working relationship is non-existent?
Is the ship sinking?
Are You Happy with the Quality of Defenders in the Youth Sections?
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As part of his remit alongside “Zubi,” Puyol's duties should really have included keeping tabs on the defenders at Barca B and perhaps the Juvenil A (U19) side.
There aren’t too many more qualified to know what it takes to make it as a defender at one of the biggest clubs in the world.
Alejandro Grimaldo, Macky Frank Bagnack and Elohor Godswill are just three names that are becoming more familiar to followers of Barca.
With Puyol overseeing and in charge of their progression, it would've been a reasonable bet that the back line was in safe hands.
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