'Just like the heart of Barcelona,' Puyol explodes at Gerrard's goal, still fiery at 48... In the mixed zone, he said, "We enjoyed it without injuries," Sweet [Sangam]

*This content was translated by AI.

As expected, he is truly the 'heart of Barcelona.' Carles Puyol (48) showed fiery play to Korean fans.

Barcelona Legend (team name Barca Legend) defeated Liverpool Legend (The Reds Legend) 8-3 at the '2026 Champions Impact in Seoul' held at Seoul World Cup Stadium on the 6th.

On this day, Barca Legend's Andres Iniesta orchestrated the attack throughout the match with exquisite through passes, recording one goal and four assists. Additionally, Nolito's hat-trick and consecutive goals by Christian Terro, Rivaldo, and Patrick Kluivert secured the victory.

The Reds Legend also saw Steven Gerrard, Robbie Keane, and Luis Garcia score consolation goals. As the two teams combined for a dazzling 11-goal spectacle, Korean fans went wild.

Puyol, known as the 'heart of Barcelona,' played as a central defender, displaying solid man-marking and defensive coordination comparable to his prime.

Notably, despite being an exhibition match, he showed an extraordinary competitive spirit unlike his playing days. When Steven Gerrard scored an equalizer in a chaotic situation in the box in the 33rd minute of the first half, Puyol was seen angrily shouting at his fellow defenders, strongly urging them on. This left a deep impression on the fans. Puyol's undiminished fiery determination and passion even after retirement drew applause from Korean fans.

Meeting Puyol in the mixed zone after the match, he shared his thoughts: "In the beginning, both teams tried to play football, so it was a very tight game. In the second half, we were clearly in the lead, but the most important thing is that the fans really enjoyed themselves, had a great time, and no one suffered serious injuries."

Puyol, visiting Korea for the third time, also expressed gratitude to Korean fans. He said, "I have played several matches here at (Seoul World Cup Stadium), and honestly, the atmosphere is impressive every time I come. I want to express my gratitude to the Korean fans who always cheer for us with such passion."

When asked who the most threatening opponent was, Puyol did not single out a specific player but praised the entire opposing team. Puyol stated, "Liverpool always has high-quality and threatening players. They were threatening in the first half, but our team handled them well and held on. I cannot pick just one; the entire Liverpool team, especially all the very fast attackers, were threatening."

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*This content was translated by AI.