With Spain having made an unbeaten start to their 2022 FIFA World Cup campaign, Barcelona president Joan Laporta has insisted that Blaugrana boss Xavi Hernandez deserves just as much credit as Luis Enrique for the team's good performances at the showpiece.
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While the likes of Argentina, France and Brazil being tipped to win the prestigious World Cup, Spain have perhaps gone under the radar as potential title contenders, but a record-breaking 7-0 victory over Costa Rica and a 1-1 draw with Germany may have alerted many to La Furia Roja's potency.
Of those who have been impressed is Laporta, with the 60-year-old stating that the Iberians' success so far is no surprise considering the many Barca talents in the Spain squad.
The Catalan giants executive has lauded the club's head coach Xavi, claiming that the former midfielder has contributed just as much as head coach Enrique has to the national team's impressive displays in Qatar.
"The coach is doing very well and that's why we're first in the league. And if the team is doing well now, it's a consequence of the good work being done at Barcelona," Laporta told Marca.
"Luis Enrique has been very successful in building a block with players. It's mostly a team that is Barcelona.
"This makes it easier to play and adapt. And a large part of the credit must be attributed to Xavi because he's making all of them play for Barcelona."
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Xavi was under a lot of scrutiny prior to the World Cup after Barca were dumped out of the UEFA Champions League at the group stage, but did finish the league campaign strong ahead of the tournament, with the Blaugrana currently top the LaLiga standings.
No club is as well represented in Enrique's side as Barca, and while Laporta's comments do seem a slight on the work the Spain coach has done with the side for the past three years, there is perhaps some truth to them.
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