Carles Puyol has defended Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino, insisting the
players must bear equal responsibility for a dismal week in which the
club exited the Champions League and slipped to third in La Liga.
Barca followed their 1-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid in Europe last week with a 1-0 loss to Granada in the league, which has prompted heavy criticism of Martino in newspapers including Mundo Deportivo. Sport, meanwhile, reported on Monday that Borussia Dortmund coach Juergen Klopp is the club’s first choice to replace the Argentine.
However, club captain Puyol told a news conference that it was unfair
to hold Martino responsible for the recent disappointments.
“We are a team and the blame is for everyone,” Puyol, who is currently
sidelined through injury, said. “It is easier to attack a coach than 25
players, but we know ourselves that the whole team is responsible.