Puyol: Barcelona must copy gritty Gunners

PARIS (Ticker) - Barcelona captain Carles Puyol believes his team should imitate Arsenal’s work ethic on the pitch in Wednesday’s Champions League final in Paris.

Puyol will lift the European title at the Stade de France, the club’s second in its history, provided the Catalan outfit beats the Gunners.

“When I joined Barcelona’s first team I always thought of winning titles, especially in important competitions like the Champions League,” Puyol said. “To play in Champions League finals is the maximum for any player and I’m very happy and very grateful to be in this position.”

The Spain international was only 14 when Barca clinched its first European crown in 1992 and believes the time has come to add another one to its trophy gallery.

“I remember watching that 1992 final alone in a room in my house,” he said. “I was so nervous. Many years have passed since then and now we have the chance to repeat that success and we must make the most of it.”

The 28-year-old expects a tight battle from an Arsenal side that is determined to register its first success in Europe’s premier club competition.

“We don’t consider ourselves favorites,” he said. “This is a final and in such a special game it’s always 50-50. We have a lot of respect for Arsenal.

“I think the fact Arsene Wenger’s side has done so well, that they haven’t conceded a goal in so many games, is down to the hard work of the whole team. It would be impossible for a team to be 10 European games with a clean sheet if they didn’t have a great team, not just a good defense or a good goalkeeper.”

Puyol is well aware if his side wants to stop the likes of Arsenal captain Thierry Henry and eventually beat the Gunners, it will have to use the same approach.

“All of us have to work well defensively, as a team, in order to make sure that we stop Henry and the rest of them,” he said. “We cannot simply obsess on Henry because even though everyone talks about him, Arsenal have other great quality players like Cesc Fabregas or Jose Antonio Reyes that can turn around the game.”

The Spanish club will attempt to join the select band of European clubs (Liverpool, Ajax and Bayern Munich) to have claimed their domestic title and European Cup on more than one occasion, having previously achieved the feat in the 1991-92 campaign.

“Before the game I will tell my players that we have to give everything on the pitch. To fight as hard as we can and hope that everything goes well,” Puyol said. “The key to this game is to try to impose our play knowing they will also be looking to take control.

“I think the team who is able to take command and take advantage of the early opportunities they get will win.”

Puyol believes Henry will have an added motivation to do well tomorrow.

Henry has been linked with a move away from Highbury this summer, with Barcelona among the clubs keen to acquire his services.

“When you go on the pitch, you forget about all that has been said,” Puyol said. “All you think about is winning and helping your team do well and I think Henry will do this.

“Henry is a great player and whether or not he will come here next summer, we have to show some respect for the players that are currently at Barca.”