Gerard Pique has rubbished the suggestion that he has fallen out with Pep Guardiola, and revealed that he desperately wants the Barcelona boss to remain at Camp Nou beyond the end of the season.
The Blaugrana coach is out of contract in the summer and has yet to give any indication as to whether he will sign a new deal with the Catalans.
Pique, meanwhile, has been in and out of the Barca line-up in recent weeks and was dropped to the bench for Saturday's Clasico against Real Madrid, but the centre-back insists that his relationship with Guardiola is as strong as ever.
"I would put my hand in the fire for Pep to stay on," the Spain international told reporters at a press conference on Monday.
"Even though some people doubt it, my relationship with Guardiola is fantastic. We talk a lot more than people think.
"Being on the bench is a new experience for me, but it's the boss' decision and I have to respect it.
"And I'm confident that Guardiola will continue [with Barca] because he loves this club and this job."
Pique was speaking on the eve of the Catalans' crunch Champions League clash with Chelsea at Camp Nou, with the defending champions trailing 1-0 after last week's first-leg encounter at Stamford Bridge.
With Barca going into the game on the back of a devastating 2-1 loss to Primera Division title rivals Real Madrid, some pundits have claimed that the Blaugrana's era of dominance is coming to an end, but Pique finds such talk disrespectful.
"We, the team, have won a lot and we deserve more credit," the former Manchester United man argued.
"But there's not a single fan that doubts this team. I'm convinced that the fans are with us and that the Camp Nou will be full [against Chelsea]."
Barcelona have won 13 titles since Guardiola took charge of the club in 2008.
