Former Barcelona director and candidate for the presidency Toni Freixa has jumped to the defence of coach Ronald Koeman.

Freixa says Koeman has struggled due to the dressing room.

Freixa told Radio Cope: "Barcelona is a manager shredder. Koeman needs support. He has a good staff but it's not easy with the deficiencies the club has right now.

"The only coaches who have been respected at Barcelona are [Johan] Cruyff and [Pep] Guardiola.

"If Xavi comes now, he will also be respected. And if Xavi doesn't come, then it doesn't matter who the new coach is he will not be respected.

"They [Cruyff and Guardiola] are the best two coaches in the history of Barcelona, but Ernesto Valverde won league and cup doubles and they never stopped questioning him. They criticised Luis Enrique and he won a treble."