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ESPNsoccernet: Europe | |
Barcelona captain Carles Puyol has dismissed suggestions that his side may no longer be the dominant force that swept all before them on their way to the Champions League and La Liga titles last season.
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The Catalans opened the 2011-12 campaign by beating Real Madrid in the Spanish Supercopa and FC Porto in the UEFA Super Cup, but have drawn their past two matches 2-2 against Real Sociedad and AC Milan.
In both games, Barca squandered a lead on their way to being held, leading some to suggest that Pep Guardiola's side are not as invincible as they have previously been made out to be.
But Puyol insists the players and staff at Camp Nou are wholly unconcerned by external criticism and has backed the club to move forward from the disappointment of successive draws.
"We are fine and we are not listening to what people are saying from outside the club," Puyol said. "The team was frustrated and it left a bad taste in the mouth (after the Milan game) but we have already turned the page.
"Before we were not the best and now we are not the worst. We want to win as much as ever but it is true that we need to be concentrated especially at set-plays. We need to ensure that the opposition don't get the ball and they don't score."
Barca have been operating with a makeshift defence of late, with Javier Mascherano and Sergio Busquets playing in central defence against Milan, but Puyol is expected to return to the starting line-up to face Osasuna in the Primera Division this weekend.
Gerard Pique remains sidelined, while Andres Iniesta joined Alexis Sanchez on the treatment table after injuring his hamstring in midweek.