Lionel Messi Fitness Scare Adds to Luis Enrique's Problems at Barcelona

The storm clouds are rumbling above the Camp Nou. They literally were, in fact, on Monday morning, with Barcelona's autumn sun washed away by a torrential downpour.

It made for an easy metaphor, given Barcelona have lost two consecutive games after going the previous eight unbeaten in La Liga.

And just like in the city, when it rains, it pours. A series of events, some unfortunate and some preventable, have combined to leave a string of ugly headlines strewn across the sports pages in Catalonia.

There was the Gerard Pique incident with Barcelona's police force, which saw him remonstrating on the street.

The defeat by Real Madrid which saw the Blaugrana out-thought, out-fought and even out-passed by their rivals.

Andres Iniesta sustaining an injury in the process.

Manu Fernandez/Associated Press

The subsequent fallout and the promise of getting back on the right track against Celta Vigo deflated by a combination of the woodwork, poor finishing and their opponent's brilliant goalkeeper, Sergio Alvarez.

After that, an injury occurred to Jeremy Mathieu, the defender that Luis Enrique had been relying on the most.

And now, according to Spanish television channel La Sexta, h/t Sport, Lionel Messi has asked Marcelo D'Andrea, the Argentine national team physiotherapist, to spend 15 days in his house, trying to get him back to his best shape. 

Messi is not injured and is expected to start against Ajax on Wednesday night in the Champions League.

Emilio Morenatti/Associated Press

However, if he feels some discomfort, it would at least explain why he has played so poorly in the past two games.

Before Barcelona took on Real Madrid, Messi had looked in fantastic shape.

While he wasn't as prolific as before, that was due to his deeper role; he was creating several more opportunities for his team-mates.

But against Madrid he looked a pale shadow of the Messi we know, skewing one chance wide when perfectly positioned to score.

He was lacking against Celta Vigo too, with the exception of his free kick that hit the crossbar and one five-minute first-half spell.

Manu Fernandez/Associated Press

In that short period, Messi burst into life. He drew a brilliant save from Sergio with a sharp, flashed left-foot strike towards the top corner.

A second effort was hacked onto the post desperately by Jonny, Celta's defender on the line.

Finally he was given a free header, but he placed the ball some way over the crossbar when he should have at least drawn a save.

Messi has started every single Barcelona match this season, the only Barcelona player to have done so. He has also only been substituted once.

If he has a problem now, Enrique has reaped what he has sown in that case. In games like the 6-0 home win over Granada, with Barcelona 3-0 up at the break, Messi should have been given a rest.

There are other problems too. Javier Miguel claims in Sport that Enrique called a summit on Sunday morning to calm the squad down after their defeat to Celta.

Manu Fernandez/Associated Press

"The picture of the Barcelona dressing room on Sunday was a poem, a poem of disappointment, confusion, worry, despondency and discouragement. Hardly anybody raised their voice, tangible evidence that the second defeat running has done some damage to the team," he wrote.

Of course, if Barcelona beat Ajax at the Amsterdam ArenA and then win on the road at Almeria this coming weekend, they will head into the international break in improved spirits.

Provided they win the second clash, they will still be within two points at the very least of whoever is leading the table; most likely Real Madrid.

Nothing is lost and all is there to play for. Enrique just has to find his umbrella and stride confidently out of the storm and back into the light.