Xavi Hernandez says the current feeling under new Barcelona coach Luis Enrique reminds him of Josep Guardiola's first year as boss at the Camp Nou.
Luis Enrique's new-look Blaugrana side have started the 2014-15 season with four wins from four games in all competitions, while introducing a number of new signings and youth team graduates, although without playing especially sparkling football.
During the 2008-09 campaign, Guardiola's Barca won an historic first ever treble of the Copa Del Rey, La Liga and Champions League trophies, while also playing some of the most entertaining and attractive football ever seen.
Xavi, who has started just one of his side's first four games to date, told Canal Plus show Espacio Reservado that even at this early stage he could feel that something similar could well happen.
"I have the same feeling as with Guardiola in 2008," Xavi said. "Good years are coming. He [Enrique] is a winner, a born leader."
The veteran playmaker, 34, denied that current Bayern Munich coach Guardiola had been in touch about a transfer last summer, while saying that the subject was irrelevant as he had no intention of playing for another European club in his career.
"Nothing came to me from them," Xavi said. "I had already told the club I did not want to play in Europe, to not have to face Barca. I want to finish up here and then we will see what happens in future."
A keen student of the game, Xavi said that he enjoyed watching other midfielders do their work, while picking out Andrea Pirlo of Juventus as a player he particularly admires.
"I watch other midfielders a lot: [Andres] Iniesta, [David] Silva, I watch Arsenal for [Santi] Cazorla, now Denis Suarez, [Ivan] Rakitic... but when I see Pirlo it is marvellous," he said. "I would go to see Juve just to see him. Then there are also midfielders who are not valued so much in Spain, like [Sergio] Busquets and Xabi Alonso."