Barcelona sports chief Deco has admitted his admiration for Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp.

Deco needs to find a new coach with Xavi stepping down at the end of the season - just as Klopp is doing at Anfield.

He said: "We must follow a line of work, we will hardly be a team which does not want to play well, which does not want to have the ball.

"Based on this idea, each coach has his characteristics, but the one who comes must have ambition and a thirst to do great things."

Asked about the Klopp rumours, Deco also told La Vanguardia: "He is an excellent coach, but I think this is not the time to talk about it. The new coach will want to make changes, but first you will have to explain the project and the ideas to him.

"There are many options."