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Give Messi a break - but why rest may not be the solution for Barcelona's 42-game fatigued forward
Top sports physio Piero Galilea tells Goal.com that the Argentine's dip in form could be down to intensive aerobic training this winter, but claims rest may not be the answer
08-Feb-2012 3:22:37 PM
Getty Images
ANALYSIS
By Ben Hayward | Spanish Football Editor
Pick up a paper in Spain this week or switch on the television and you may see the headline: "What's wrong with Lionel Messi?"
Looking at his statistics, you would probably come to the conclusion that, actually, nothing is amiss. But watching Leo live, you realise that right now, the Argentine is not quite firing on all cylinders.
Yes, he set up the opening strike for youngster Cristian Tello in the 2-1 win over Real Sociedad on Saturday night and yes, he scored the winner, too. But this was more of a laboured Leo than a magical Messi like the one the Camp Nou has toasted so often over the past few seasons.
Something is clearly up and it showed in the player's dejected demeanour after the game at the weekend. Some have speculated that the forward's fading form is down to the fact that Xavi and Andres Iniesta have been out of the side in recent games. But most think the 24-year-old just needs a rest after what has been another gruelling campaign with Barca.
So does Messi deserve a break from football as well as the press? Goal.com sought the opinion of one of Spain's top physiologists, Piero Galilea of the Centre d'Alt Rendiment in Sant Cugat, just outside the Catalan capital.
Messi, of course, has featured heavily for Barca this term, having appeared in 36 games already for the Catalan club in 2011-12, in six different competitions - La Liga, the Copa del Rey, the Champions League, the Spanish Supercopa, the Uefa Super Cup and the Club World Cup.
And the Argentine, as usual, has been fundamental, netting 37 times and racking up 18 assists as Barca look to add to the 13 trophies they have already won under Pep Guardiola.
This season started with the 12th and 13th of those as Barca beat Porto 2-0 in the Uefa Super Cup and edged out fierce rivals Real Madrid over two legs, 5-4 on aggregate, in a bad-tempered Spanish Supercopa tie.
Messi played 90 minutes in both of those games and was sensational, scoring three goals and setting up the other two as Barca once again got the better of their eternal enemies. And incredibly, the Argentine had only just returned from holiday.
So could that lack of pertinent pre-season preparation now be catching up with him?
It's not only Barcelona, either. Messi, keen to preserve and protect an improving image in his homeland following much criticism from his compatriots in recent years, has turned out for the Albiceleste six times during the current campaign. And now he is captain of his country, too, meaning he cannot afford to miss out on a 'fecha Fifa', however many games he has played for his club side.
So far in 2011-12, Leo has travelled to Argentina, Colombia, Venezuela, India and even Bangladesh for World Cup qualifiers and friendly fixtures, featuring in every single minute for the South American side - twice in September, October and November.
Following friendly wins over Venezuela and Nigeria in India and Bangladesh, respectively, in early September Messi was left on the bench by Barca boss Pep Guardiola in the Catalans' next match, away to Real Sociedad in La Liga. But after the champions squandered a two-goal lead, the Argentine was thrust into action in the final stages, albeit unable to save his side from disappointment in the Basque Country as the Blaugrana drew 2-2.
He hasn't been on the bench for a league fixture since, despite two more trips with his national side. Have those journeys, however, taken their toll on the forward's fitness?
Since the turn of the year, Messi has seen his influence somewhat restricted. After a brilliant hat-trick away to Malaga, it looked like the Argentine was back to his very best, and there was a brace against Betis, too, on the night he showed off his Ballon d'Or trophy to the Camp Nou congregation in early January.
But those five goals against the two teams from Andalucia papered over some cracks in what was not the forward's finest month. Still, though, Leo was decisive. Somewhat subdued in the two legs of Barca's Copa del Rey quarter-final against Madrid, the 24-year-old set up a goal in each game - for Eric Abidal at the Bernabeu and Pedro at Camp Nou - to set Barca on their way to the semi-finals. It wasn't vintage Messi, but it was impressive nevertheless.
Nor was it in Valencia last Wednesday, and Barca needed the head of captain Carles Puyol to earn a draw in the side's semi-final first leg, as Messi missed a second-half penalty.
Back at Camp Nou on Saturday, another goal and another assist. But Leo looked tired, trying - and failing - time and time again to run through the visitors defence. Time for a break, then?
But can Barca afford to rest Messi anyway? Without a host of first-team players in recent games as injuries accumulate, coach Guardiola will be reluctant to leave out his talisman for any of the crucial challenges ahead.
Barca are currently seven points behind Madrid in La Liga, on the verge of passage to the final of the Copa del Rey and resume their Champions League campaign in the last 16 against Bayer Leverkusen next week. The games are coming thick and fast.
The Catalans have become dependent on the Argentine this term, especially since losing David Villa to a broken leg in December and injuries intermittently excluding the likes of Alexis Sanchez, Pedro, Iniesta and Cesc Fabregas, while his reserve last season, Ibrahim Affelay, is also out with a long-term problem. But with confidence lacking and their form fragile, Guardiola could surely risk on-field disappointment by resting Messi.
By playing him continually, however, could the Catalan coach be taking an altogether greater risk?
Barca will be closely monitoring the fitness of their finest footballer, conscious that an injury to Messi would have potentially disastrous ramifications on their season. So should such signs appear, the Argentine is sure to be rested in the coming weeks.
But given his desire to play in every single game and his extraordinary powers of recuperation, Messi could yet be a fixture in this side all the way until May. Don't bet against it.
Follow Ben Hayward on
By Ben Hayward | Spanish Football Editor
Pick up a paper in Spain this week or switch on the television and you may see the headline: "What's wrong with Lionel Messi?"
Looking at his statistics, you would probably come to the conclusion that, actually, nothing is amiss. But watching Leo live, you realise that right now, the Argentine is not quite firing on all cylinders.
Yes, he set up the opening strike for youngster Cristian Tello in the 2-1 win over Real Sociedad on Saturday night and yes, he scored the winner, too. But this was more of a laboured Leo than a magical Messi like the one the Camp Nou has toasted so often over the past few seasons.
Something is clearly up and it showed in the player's dejected demeanour after the game at the weekend. Some have speculated that the forward's fading form is down to the fact that Xavi and Andres Iniesta have been out of the side in recent games. But most think the 24-year-old just needs a rest after what has been another gruelling campaign with Barca.
So does Messi deserve a break from football as well as the press? Goal.com sought the opinion of one of Spain's top physiologists, Piero Galilea of the Centre d'Alt Rendiment in Sant Cugat, just outside the Catalan capital.
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MESSI IN MINUTES SINCE THE COPA AMERICA
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 MORE ON LIONEL MESSI |
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Messi, of course, has featured heavily for Barca this term, having appeared in 36 games already for the Catalan club in 2011-12, in six different competitions - La Liga, the Copa del Rey, the Champions League, the Spanish Supercopa, the Uefa Super Cup and the Club World Cup.
And the Argentine, as usual, has been fundamental, netting 37 times and racking up 18 assists as Barca look to add to the 13 trophies they have already won under Pep Guardiola.
This season started with the 12th and 13th of those as Barca beat Porto 2-0 in the Uefa Super Cup and edged out fierce rivals Real Madrid over two legs, 5-4 on aggregate, in a bad-tempered Spanish Supercopa tie.
Messi played 90 minutes in both of those games and was sensational, scoring three goals and setting up the other two as Barca once again got the better of their eternal enemies. And incredibly, the Argentine had only just returned from holiday.
So could that lack of pertinent pre-season preparation now be catching up with him?
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LEO'S LACK OF PRE-SEASON TRAINING
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It's not only Barcelona, either. Messi, keen to preserve and protect an improving image in his homeland following much criticism from his compatriots in recent years, has turned out for the Albiceleste six times during the current campaign. And now he is captain of his country, too, meaning he cannot afford to miss out on a 'fecha Fifa', however many games he has played for his club side.
So far in 2011-12, Leo has travelled to Argentina, Colombia, Venezuela, India and even Bangladesh for World Cup qualifiers and friendly fixtures, featuring in every single minute for the South American side - twice in September, October and November.
Following friendly wins over Venezuela and Nigeria in India and Bangladesh, respectively, in early September Messi was left on the bench by Barca boss Pep Guardiola in the Catalans' next match, away to Real Sociedad in La Liga. But after the champions squandered a two-goal lead, the Argentine was thrust into action in the final stages, albeit unable to save his side from disappointment in the Basque Country as the Blaugrana drew 2-2.
He hasn't been on the bench for a league fixture since, despite two more trips with his national side. Have those journeys, however, taken their toll on the forward's fitness?
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THE LONG TRIPS TO PLAY FOR ARGENTINA
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Since the turn of the year, Messi has seen his influence somewhat restricted. After a brilliant hat-trick away to Malaga, it looked like the Argentine was back to his very best, and there was a brace against Betis, too, on the night he showed off his Ballon d'Or trophy to the Camp Nou congregation in early January.
But those five goals against the two teams from Andalucia papered over some cracks in what was not the forward's finest month. Still, though, Leo was decisive. Somewhat subdued in the two legs of Barca's Copa del Rey quarter-final against Madrid, the 24-year-old set up a goal in each game - for Eric Abidal at the Bernabeu and Pedro at Camp Nou - to set Barca on their way to the semi-finals. It wasn't vintage Messi, but it was impressive nevertheless.
Nor was it in Valencia last Wednesday, and Barca needed the head of captain Carles Puyol to earn a draw in the side's semi-final first leg, as Messi missed a second-half penalty.
Back at Camp Nou on Saturday, another goal and another assist. But Leo looked tired, trying - and failing - time and time again to run through the visitors defence. Time for a break, then?
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TO REST OR NOT TO REST?
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But can Barca afford to rest Messi anyway? Without a host of first-team players in recent games as injuries accumulate, coach Guardiola will be reluctant to leave out his talisman for any of the crucial challenges ahead.
Barca are currently seven points behind Madrid in La Liga, on the verge of passage to the final of the Copa del Rey and resume their Champions League campaign in the last 16 against Bayer Leverkusen next week. The games are coming thick and fast.
The Catalans have become dependent on the Argentine this term, especially since losing David Villa to a broken leg in December and injuries intermittently excluding the likes of Alexis Sanchez, Pedro, Iniesta and Cesc Fabregas, while his reserve last season, Ibrahim Affelay, is also out with a long-term problem. But with confidence lacking and their form fragile, Guardiola could surely risk on-field disappointment by resting Messi.
By playing him continually, however, could the Catalan coach be taking an altogether greater risk?
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IS MESSI RISKING AN INJURY?
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Barca will be closely monitoring the fitness of their finest footballer, conscious that an injury to Messi would have potentially disastrous ramifications on their season. So should such signs appear, the Argentine is sure to be rested in the coming weeks.
But given his desire to play in every single game and his extraordinary powers of recuperation, Messi could yet be a fixture in this side all the way until May. Don't bet against it.
Follow Ben Hayward on
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