Xavi Hails Enrique

The 34-year-old has voiced his support for his coach and believes he'll find the right formula following a period of poor form for the Catalan club.

Barcelona captain Xavi says the club are on the right track under Luis Enrique - despite their indifferent
form in recent weeks.

After eight rounds without conceding a single goal in La Liga, Barca lost back-to-back Primera Division games to Real Madrid and Celta Vigo recently, before struggling to beat Almeria 2-1 on Saturday in a performance described by Luis Enrique as "our worst performance of the season" so far.

Xavi, so impressive in the midweek win over Ajax, was back on the bench for that one but was called upon in the second half along with Luis Suarez and Neymar as Barca sought to overturn Thievy's first-half strike.

The victory saved Barca's blushes in the end, but the nature of the team's display raised further question marks about their future under Luis Enrique.

"We would all like to see the team's best version every game and as soon as possible," Xavi said at a press conference at Camp Nou on Monday. "There is always criticism. Perhaps on Saturday we didn't see an excellent Barca, but we are humble enough to be self-critical. We are on the right track."

Xavi, who played alongside Luis Enrique at Barca until the latter's retirement in 2004, backed his former team-mate to be successful at the Catalan club.

"Luis Enrique's trademark is playing well and winning," he said. "That's the same philosophy we have here at Barca. The style [of play] is the same, with just a few adjustments. The philosophy hasn't changed."

And on his own restricted role this season, he said: "Luis Enrique is honest, he talks face-to-face and he hasn't tricked me. I always want to play every minute but I'm happy, I feel useful. I have never thought about leaving."

Xavi was speaking at an event to announce that his football campus (usually held in Girona) will be travelling to Egypt in December for a five-day training programme with 500 local youngsters.

"It's a fantastic opportunity and an honour that the people of Egypt thought of us," he said. "The idea is to transfer the values I have learned here at Barca to Egypt. I can't wait to visit Egypt and meet all the kids participating in the camp."