Lionel Messi Comments on 2014 Struggles, Barcelona's Success in 2015

Lionel Messi has acknowledged the "challenge" of overcoming last year's woes with Barcelona, suggesting both he and the team are improving as 2015 rolls on.

The Argentinian struggled with injury problems at the start of 2014 and failed to consistently replicate his terrific form of years gone by, highlighted by Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo securing the Ballon d'Or for a second consecutive season.

However, Messi is positive after finding his lethal touch once more, telling Mundo Leo (h/t AS, via Football Espana):

"

The truth is that I wanted to start this year as well as possible. I knew it hadn’t been a great year, where I had a lot of problems on and off the pitch. It was a challenge to change the whole image I had projected last season. And to get it back what it was in previous years. That was my goal and that’s how I wanted to start the season.

"

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The 27-year-old believes Barca have been "doing very well" this season, turning things around after the side's Jan. 4 loss to Real Sociedad. "We're now in another dynamic," said Messi. "Everything is together. The team is confident and there’s a change in our attitude and desire, and that has gotten us where we are today."

Such quotes underline a huge improvement in togetherness after Messi was reported to have had a falling out with Barca boss Luis Enrique at the start of the year. The legendary forward has scored 37 goals and assisted a further 15 in 29 appearances across all competitions this campaign, per WhoScored.com—the kind of numbers that have been a hallmark of his career.

Despite the arrivals of Neymar and Luis Suarez, Messi's importance continues to grow, and he remains an influential leader in the Blaugrana dressing room. Indeed, his ability to continue scoring will play a major role in the Camp Nou side's success this season.