Barcelona sporting director Deco has insisted that Xavi is the right manager for the Catalan giants amid recent criticism of the club's legendary former midfielder.

The La Liga champions have lost two of their last four matches in all competitions, including a home defeat to Real Madrid in El Clasico, while they struggled in a surprise loss to Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League earlier this month.

There has recently been criticism surrounding the 43-year-old, who has hit out at sections of the media for the "negativity around the team".

However, Deco wants Xavi's 'project to be a long one', with the club's sporting director insisting that the ex-midfielder needs to be given time to implement change.

© Reuters

"I hope his project is a long one, that we are at the beginning, not in the middle. From the beginning, whenever I was with the president (Joan Laporta) I always defended Xavi's appointment, because Barca needed to rebuild with people who know the club," Deco told EFE.

"And Xavi is a coach who gave you that ability and that calmness to be able to build a team.

"We have won a very important league and we are building a team for the present and the future, and it is the way forward. We know that it's important to get results and we also want to play good football, but I think Xavi has all the elements to do it well.

"Barca has always liked to play attractive football. This is the club's idea. But attractive football without winning doesn't make a mark.

"Here, the teams that have made football history have ended up winning in the end. I believe that one thing cannot be without the other."

© Reuters

Barcelona entered the international break off the back of a 2-1 win over Alaves in La Liga, with Robert Lewandowski scoring twice in the second half to turn the match around.

The Catalan side are currently third in the La Liga table, two points behind second-placed Real Madrid and four behind division leaders Girona.

Barcelona are also in a strong position to reach the knockout round of the Champions League, sitting top of Group H ahead of next week's clash with Porto.

However, a defeat for Xavi's side against the Portuguese outfit, coupled with a win for Shakhtar against Royal Antwerp, would leave the La Liga champions in a difficult spot ahead of their final game away to Antwerp in the middle of December.