Former Barcelona presidential candidate Josep María Minguella has lifted the lid on who is keeping Xavi safe in his job.

The coach's position is again in the spotlight after Barca's Super Cup final thrashing by Real Madrid on Sunday.

Minguella, who with Barcelona has been a translator, transfer advisor and twice a candidate for the presidency, toldCadena COPE: "It's all a very special situation.

"The one who supports Xavi Hernández is not (president) Joan Laporta, it is the former brother-in-law Alejandro Echevarría, who is the one who acted as Xavi's man when he went to Qatar and is the one who manages the club from within without showing his face.

"Echevarría is going to support Xavi as much as he can, if there is no pressure from the press or outside...

"(He) is or has been a partner of Deco in Gabon in football businesses and that is why the first player brought in in the new stage was the Gabonese Aubameyang, and Deco was sports director of the Gabon Federation, and Camacho his coach and Laporta's son, Camacho's assistant. Should I continue or not...? This is the situation at Barça.

"One thing is what is said and another is how the threads are handled."

Minguella famously brought Diego Maradona to Barca and was also involved in the signing of a young Leo Messi.