Puyol jokes about playing on until 65

Posted Saturday, November 26, 2011 by Supersport.com

Carles Puyol is planning to continue playing on for Barcelona and Spain until the age of 65 or 67, according to a humorous interview published on Friday by sports daily AS.

Puyol told AS that had completely recovered from the recent injuries which have plague him in the last eight months.

"I feel perfect physically," said the shaggy-haired defender, who will be 34 in April.

"After being out for eight months, I don't have any pain at all. A few days ago I said that I still have four or five years of football left in me, but now I want to say that they will have to put up with me for eight or nine more years. Isn't the retirement age 65 or 67?"

Puyol has been a firm favourite with the Barca fans since he made his debut in 1999 - almost as popular as playmaker Xavi - with his fearless tackling and indomitable never-say-die spirit.

Whilst Xavi has bossed the midfield, Puyol has kept things tight at the back, with his uncanny positional sense, strength in the air and ability to play in all four defensive positions.

He showed this ability once more on Wednesday whern filling in for the suspended Dani Alves at right-bak in the impressive 3-2 win away to AC Milan, turning in yet another high-octane and spirited display.

Puyol has been the Barca captain since 2004 and has been one of the main factors in the club's phenomenal success since then, picking up three Champions Leagues, five Spanish Ligas and one Club World Cup - together with a host of minor trophies.

He earned the admiration of the watching world last May when, instead of picking up the Champions trophy himself after the 3-1 defeat of Manchester United at Wembley, he insisted on Eric Abidal having the honour, just two months after he had recovered from an emergency operation to remove a tumour on his liver.

Despite having won so many trophies, Puyol told AS he was still hungry for more success, particularly in December's Club World Cup in Japan.

"This team (Barcelona) is ready for everything and will not be distracted from its objectives. Before going to Japan we have many things to resolve," he said, in reference to the December 10 Clasico away to Liga leaders Real Madrid.

Barca are currently three points behind Real, a situation that Puyol is keen to change.

When asked whether he was comfortable in the three-man defence employed recently by coach Pep Guardiola, Puyol replied: "It is true that we are more used to a four-man defence, with the movements coming more automatically to us. But the important things is to be able to read and interpret the situations.

"In Milan, for example, we started with three at the back, and they played a lot down the wings, which made things difficult for the full-backs. Then (Sergio) Busquets came back into defence alongside (Javier) Mascherano, and things improved. You have to be flexible."

Puyol admitted that he had been considering retiring from the Spanish national team after winning the 2010 World Cup, but then decided to continue.

He has played 96 times for La Roja, and made it clear on Friday that he was really looking forward to Euro 2012.