Guardiola took over a team who were in something of a crisis at the end of last season, following their second successive season without a trophy.

Barca are now on course for a remarkable treble as they lead the Primera Liga table by 10 points and are in the last 16 of both the Champions League and the Copa del Rey.

A delighted Laporta admits that things are going better than they could have expected.

"We took some decisions with the confidence that everything would go well," he said in a an interview with Barca TV and www.fcbarcelona.cat. "But the team's run has surpassed all expectations.

"I am quite satisfied."

Guardiola's appointment showed remarkable faith as the 37-year-old's only previous coaching experience at been at the helm of the reserve team.

And Laporta admits that the decision was not met by universal support initially.

"It was an important decision," he said. "Because it involved the change of the head coach and for that reason it is one of the most important decisions you can make.

"It's certain that we had little support, we didn't even have a silent agreement, but despite everything we took the decision to choose Guardiola.

"We were confident that everything would work well, because he is a man who knows football and the club like no-one else and, anyway, it was a nice story.

"I have already said that we want to build on this club's history with people who are Barca through and through like Pep Guardiola.

"I think we still have a long way to go. This is not more than the beginning and we hope that everything will go along the right path, but I stress: it has to be done with caution and calmness."

Guardiola was part of Barca's famous 'Dream Team' under Johan Cruyff in the 1990s and the midfielder helped the Catalan giants to 16 trophies during his 11-year career as a Barca player.

And Laporta revealed that hopes Guardiola could continue Barca's tradition of playing entertaining football had been a factor in his appointment when others called for Jose Mourinho.

He added: "Guardiola keeps the essence and football philosophy of Barca with an attacking game, looking to win right from kick-off, with possession football which is taught right from our academy, and, above all, with an intense commitment and a willingness to fight to the end.

"That gives it a touch of quality which is very much Pep's way; I think he's brought it up to date and is doing things which are astonishing everyone around the world."

Guardiola took over the reigns of the Catalan giants from Frank Rijkaard, who left the club in a cloud of disappointment.

A summer of change also saw a host of players shown the Nou Camp door, such as Ronaldinho, Deco, Gianluca Zambrotta, Giovani Dos Santos, Edmilson, Oleguer, Santiago Ezquerro and Marc Crosas.

However, Laporta insists he owes all of them a debt of gratitude.

"I think it's important to stress something here; we have to be grateful to the past," he said. "We have to be grateful to people like Frank Rijkaard and other players who were leaders of this team and are now no longer here.

"They've also made it possible for Barca to experience the good times we're going through now. Because there are currently players who have learnt a lot from others who've since left the club.

"The change in manager has been important but we still have to be grateful to those who went before. Frank Rijkaard has given us a lot and laid the groundwork for what the team is doing now and how it's playing.

"I know that Pep Guardiola is grateful to him as well because it's been Frank and Txiki (Begiristain) who've been building the squad over the last few years.

"Frank Rijkaard and Pep Guardiola are two coaches who project an excellent image of Barca all around the world.

"It was very difficult to deal with the removal of Frank Rijkaard from the helm. He worked very well and gave a good image of Barcelona football club.

"Pep has his own style but one that's comparable with Frank's, two different ways of doing things but both equally valid for managing Barca's first team."