Puyol: Players must take blame

The Catalans slipped to 13th in La Liga - just two points off the relegation places - after Sunday's home humiliation against Sevilla, their worst league showing since the 1941-42 season.

Fans inside the Camp Nou hurled abuse at Dutch coach Van Gaal, but Puyol insists he and his team-mates must stand up and shoulder their share of the blame.

"The players are the ones who go out on to the field. We have the maximum responsibility because we are the ones who have put ourselves in this situation," said the 24-year-old.

"The solution is not changing the manager."

Puyol admitted he was at a loss to explain the Jekyll and Hyde nature of the team, as excellent performances in Europe this campaign have been overshadowed by their league woes.

He added: "I don't have an answer to explain why we have done so well in the Champions League and have not done the same in the league.

"We prepare for league games in the same way as European games. The only thing I know is that we try to give everything on the pitch.

"We are not happy with where we are, but we must not let our heads drop."

Van Gaal's compatriot Frank de Boer also came forward to offer support to his manager.

"I feel very bad," he said. "When you play like that it is not the trainer's fault.

"The boss prepares well for every game, it's us (the players) who are not carrying out what he tells us to."