Ivan Rakitic hopes Barcelona coach Luis Enrique stays at the club beyond the end of the season, despite having played less than he would have liked recently.
Reports earlier this month claimed Rakitic wanted to leave Barca if they didn't change managers in the summer, but the Croatia international midfielder said it is in his best interests for Luis Enrique to remain in charge.
Luis Enrique's current terms expire at the end of June and he's so far declined to comment on whether or not he will extend his contract into a fourth year at Camp Nou.
"For me it's much better that Luis Enrique continues," Rakitic said at a Mundo Deportivo gala on Monday.
"He knows me best. It was him that brought me here. I'm really grateful to him. As I say, he knows me well and we're going in the same direction."
Rakitic has been a regular fixture in the Barca side since joining from Sevilla in 2014 but he has not featured as frequently in recent months.
Sunday's win over Eibar saw him make his first start in the league since the draw with Real Madrid on Dec. 3.
In the meantime he's been linked with a move to Manchester City, but he reiterated that he will fight for his place in the side and still expects to extend his contract beyond 2019.
"I want to stay at Barca for years to come," he added. "My agent is working on [a new deal]. I am confident that I will renew, if not I would not have said anything the other day.
"I am not used to being a substitute and I don't like it but it's something I have to accept, even though it's difficult.
"I don't like to be on the bench, but I'm going to demonstrate to my manager and my teammates, by training hard, that they can trust me. I hope to do so in the best way possible."