Barcelona Weathered The Early Storm But Luis Enrique Expects More Struggles

Heading into his side’s Champions League Group F match against APOEL today (live on FOX Soccer 2GO at 2:45pm ET for viewers in the US), manager Luis Enrique has confessed that Barcelona had a momentary drop in form following their 3-1 defeat to Real Madrid in late October.

Questions about the manager’s tactics, his man-management and the team’s chemistry – most notably the relationship on the pitch between Lionel Messi, Neymar and new-signing Luis Suarez – quickly surfaced in the Spanish press following the convincing defeat in El Clasico. Footage had also surfaced apparently showing Messi refusing to come off the pitch when Enrique tried to have him substituted during a previous match; and following the loss to Real, reports began to emanate from the Barcelona locker room saying the players were questioning the manager’s tactics.

It appeared that the strong start Barcelona had made during the early part of the season was starting to signs of weakness. Storm clouds quickly gathered around the Camp Nou, and the Catalan club didn’t do themselves any favors when they followed up the loss in the Spanish capital with a home defeat to Celta Vigo six days later.

What followed were unconvincing wins against Ajax and Almeria just prior to the international break. And in Barcelona, it’s not just about winning –  it’s about ‘how’ they are playing. Their supporters want to see beautiful, attacking football and apparently the Catalan club wasn’t meeting those expectations.

Then, during the interruption of the domestic schedule, news surfaced that star man Lionel Messi had given an interview where he confessed that his career may not end in Barcelona.

“At the moment, I am living in the present,” he told the Argentine publication Ole. “I am thinking about having a great year and winning the trophies we want at Barcelona – nothing else.”

“Later, we will see. In football, things change all the time. Although I have always said I would like to stay there [Barcelona] forever, sometimes everything does not always go as you want.”

Although this isn’t the first time Messi has been rumored to be leaving the Catalan club, fans were still sent into a panic once news of the Argentinian’s interview made the rounds.

Speculation began to surface that Messi believed that Barcelona weren’t being forward-thinking regarding the squad. And with the club under a transfer ban until January 2016, there would be no way for Barcelona to address its needs in midfield and defense.

There was also a belief that the player may have to leave Spain after continuing to fall foul of the tax authorities. Messi has complained that he is being singled out for special treatment compared with other elite sports players in the country who also have disputed tax affairs.

A source close to Barcelona star told Spanish website El Confidencial: “Messi is the only one who faces legal proceedings that could end with him going to jail. He’s fed up with Spain and that’s why he wants to leave.”

This perfect storm of negativity engulfed the club as players returned from the international break to prepare for their La Liga match against a much-improved Sevilla side. The only thing distracting from the events was the fact that Messi was on the cusp of breaking the all-time La Liga goal scoring record at home.

But once the match started Barcelona were able to put aside their previous poor performances, as well as the speculation surrounding their star man, and beat Sevilla convincingly by a score of 5-1.

Messi broke Telma Zarra’s record of 251 La Liga goals, was carried and thrown in the air by his teammates, while taking in an ovation from the 78,000 fans in attendance at the Camp Nou.

Everything was right again in Barcelona.

Speaking ahead of his side’s trip to Greece for their Champions League match against APOEL, manager Luis Enrique was asked if his team had gotten past their first crisis.

Enrique responded: “Unfortunately, you are always going to go through tough moments. It would be great if that wasn’t the case but you have to be very foolish to think that those complicated times will never return.”

When asked his thoughts on what appears to be the improving relationship between Messi, Neymar and Suarez; the manager said: “Bearing in mind that Neymar and Messi have been playing together for a while now and Suarez already had the associative skills he’d acquired at Ajax and Liverpool, I’m not really that surprised by what we are seeing. And let’s not forget about Pedro, Munir, Sandro…all of them.”

Despite the media spotlight on Barcelona, Enrique has done a solid job of navigating the Spanish giants through a rocky period. The club only trial league-leaders Real Madrid by two points after twelve matches, and are behind Paris Saint-Germain by a single point in their Champions League group with two matches to left to play before the Round of 16 in the competition.

Enrique weathered the early storm, but is well aware that Barcelona will see more rough patches in the days and weeks ahead.