- Title: SPAIN: Puyol relaxed on new Barca coach, admits Vilanova blow was hard to take
- Date: 22nd July 2013
- Summary: BARCELONA, SPAIN (JULY 22, 2013) (REUTERS) BARCA CAPTAIN CARLES PUYOL ENTERING NEWS CONFERENCE AND SITTING DOWN CLOSE UP OF PUYOL PUYOL'S HANDS / FACE PHOTOGRAPHER PUYOL AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BARCA CAPTAIN CARLES PUYOL, SAYING: "We have a playing style and a philosophy and we need a coach that understands our line. But I am sure (sports director) Zubi and the board will adapt to these charateristics and that their choice will be good." JOURNLAIST AT NEWS CONFERENCE CAMERAMAN (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BARCA CAPTAIN CARLES PUYOL, SAYING: "We know about his career ("Tata" Martino), he is a very good coach. He likes Barcelona's playing style. I haven't talked with Leo (Messi) yet because we have different schedules as I am still recovering, but I know he is a very good coach." JOURNALIST AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BARCA CAPTAIN CARLES PUYOL, SAYING: "You all know I have a great relationship with Luis (Enrique) and he is one of the names. I think he has what it takes but that's the same for the other candidates who have been mentioned. I can't say much more. I don't know who is coming." PUYOL AT NEWS CONFERENCE PHOTOGRAPHER EDITING (SOUNDBITE) (Catalan) BARCA CAPTAIN CARLES PUYOL, SAYING: "The truth is that it was a hard blow. We have had a few so far and this is, if I might say, even harder. We were not expecting it and the team was very upset. It still is." JOURNALIST WRITING PUYOL LEAVING NEWS CONFERENCE
- Embargoed: 6th August 2013 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Spain
- Country: Spain
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVAE2J4CXQNZE9FNB64NTVSGMH2V
- Story Text: Gerardo Martino and Luis Enrique are both suitable candidates to succeed Tito Vilanova as Barcelona coach as their philosophies chime well with the La Liga champions' playing style, captain Carles Puyol said on Monday (July 22).
The pair are among the frontrunners to take over at the Nou Camp after Vilanova was forced to stand down last week because of ill health.
Vilanova has been battling cancer, and needs time off work for treatment.
"We have a playing style and a philosophy and we need a coach that understands our line," Puyol told a news conference. "But I am sure (sports director Andoni Zubizarreta) Zubi and the board will adapt to these characteristics and that their choice will be good.
Martino, 50, who recently led Newell's Old Boys to the title in his native Argentina, and the 43-year-old Enrique, a former Spain and Barca player who joined Celta Vigo last month, have emerged in local media as the front runners for the coveted post.
"We know about his career, he is a very good coach," the shaggy-haired centre back said of Martino. "He likes Barcelona's playing style. I haven't talked with Leo (Messi) yet because we have different schedules as I am still recovering, but I know he is a very good coach."
On Enrique, who may be a more controversial choice given that he also had a stint playing for Barca's arch rivals Real Madrid, Puyol said: "You all know I have a great relationship with Luis (Enrique) and he is one of the names. I think he has what it takes but that's the same for the other candidates who have been mentioned. I can't say much more. I don't know who is coming."
Barca need to move swiftly to appoint a successor as they launch their bid for a fifth La Liga title in six years in less than a month.
One reason Martino is seen as a likely candidate is that he is from the city of Rosario where Barca's World Player of the Year Lionel Messi was born.
Messi started out in the youth ranks at Newell's where Martino was also a player.
Enrique's chances, meanwhile, may also be hampered by the fact that he only recently agreed to join Celta as well as memories of an unsuccessful stint at Serie A side AS Roma during the 2011-12 campaign.
Barca cancelled a pre-season friendly against Polish side Lechia Gdansk at the weekend because of Friday's announcement that Vilanova was leaving.
Puyol said the team still was very upset as it had been an unexpected blow for them.
"The truth is that it was a hard blow," he said. "We have had a few so far and this is, if I might say, even harder. We were not expecting it and the team was very upset. It still is."
They are due to play German and European champions Bayern Munich, who are managed by former Barca player and coach Pep Guardiola, in a friendly in the Bavarian capital on Wednesday. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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