Fabio Capello claims Barcelona lack leadership as they need “a captain with Carles Puyol’s character who grabs the players by the scruffs of their necks”.
Barca are in the midst of their worst run since 2003, having lost a third straight La Liga game in Sunday’s 2-1 defeat to Valencia – a result which also left the Catalans just one point ahead of Real Madrid, despite leading Los Blancos by double digits at the start of the month.
Capello was in charge of Madrid when they staged a similar turnaround to pip Barca to the Spanish title in the 2006-07 season, and he believes La Blaugrana’s problems stem from no longer possessing a player in Puyol’s mould.
“This situation is different because the comeback has been very quick, while back then it was more gradual, step by step,” the Italian said at the Laureus Awards gala on Monday.
“What Barcelona need now is a captain with Puyol’s character, who goes into the dressing room and grabs the players by the scruffs of their necks.”
