Barcelona’s young defender, Pau Cubarsi, has opened up about his admiration for former captain Carles Puyol, citing him as a key source of inspiration.
Cubarsi aspires to embody Puyol’s personality. He views the former Barcelona captain as a true leader who supports his teammates through good and bad times.
“My goal is to have Puyol’s personality and leadership both on and off the pitch.
“He is a leader who tries to help his teammates, and if things go bad he encourages them, and if things go good he pushes the team. For me, he is a role model,” he told El Periodico de Espana.
When asked whether he sees himself more as a defensive player or one who contributes to building the game, Cubarsi confidently stated that he can do both.
“Both, I’m good at getting the ball out and when I don’t have it I know how to press and be aggressive.”
Words of wisdom and Inigo Martinez
Reflecting on the advice that has impacted him the most, Cubarsi shared that being true to himself and staying calm to boost his confidence has made a significant difference in his growth as a player.
“To be myself and try to play with what I know, and to be calm to increase my confidence,” he added.
Cubarsi also discussed the influence of fellow defender Inigo Martinez, with whom he has shared a position since the start of the season.
According to Cubarsi, Martinez offers guidance both on and off the pitch, contributing to his sense of confidence and security during matches.
“I have shared the position with Inigo since the beginning of the season. He is someone who helps you on and off the pitch and having him by my side gives me confidence and security.”
Winning titles at Barcelona
When asked if Barcelona’s current squad is designed to win titles, Cubarsi expressed optimism. He believes that the team’s unity and ambition, combined with strong performances, put them in a good position to achieve success this season.
“I think we have a good team and we all go together and I think if we play well and have the ambition we can win titles,” he said.
On the subject of personal development, Cubarsi shared that Barcelona helps him analyze his performance by providing tactical video analysis.
He also requests individual videos to further enhance his skills, demonstrating his commitment to continuous improvement.
“ At Barcelona, they help me tactically, I have individual videos that I ask to be made to improve my level.”
Facing Kylian Mbappe
Having faced top-tier players like Kylian Mbappe, Cubarsi admitted that playing against such elite talent has accelerated his development.
He feels that these challenging encounters have not only improved his game but also provided valuable experience for the future.
“It always helps, I am a very young player and I need to improve but facing big players makes you better and gives you more experience,” he explained.
Cubarsi sees himself as a calm player, particularly when it comes to finding open teammates while playing out from the back.
“Quiet specifically to look for the free player while playing from the back.”
Although he is part of a very young Barcelona squad, he doesn’t feel like a veteran, but neither does he consider himself one of the youngest.
“We are a very young team which gives us the energy to give our best and try to play. I don’t feel like a veteran but I also don’t feel like I’m one of the youngest.”
Thoughts on Xavi and Flick
Cubarsi expressed special appreciation for Xavi, the coach who gave him his first-team debut. He regards Xavi as a supportive figure, both as a coach and a person, and is grateful for the guidance he received during their time together.
“I will always see Xavi as a coach who made my debut. A coach who helped me a lot and was always by my side, a great person on and off the pitch.
“I am very happy with what he has done for me.”
When comparing Barcelona’s current coach, Hansi Flick, to Spain’s national coach Luis de la Fuente, Cubarsi noted that both are highly skilled and share a strong rapport with their players. He feels fortunate to have worked with both.
“They are two very good coaches. They always have a good relationship with the players and they want us to do well and I have a good relationship with them.”
Cubarsi also acknowledged the winning mentality that Flick has instilled in the team since his arrival.
“From the beginning, he gave us a winning mentality and we are very happy to have him with us.”
Addressing comments about an increase in training intensity under Flick compared to Xavi, Cubarsi clarified that the two coaches have different approaches.
“They are two different coaches. We were training with Xavi too but due to circumstances things didn’t go well with Xavi and now we are very happy with Flick,” he concluded.