Why Celta Vigo Trip Is Perfect Time for Barcelona to Rest Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi shouldn't even be given a second thought when it comes to picking the Barcelona squad for the game at Celta Vigo on Sunday.

Why? The answer is plainly obvious.

With the greatest of respect, Barca have much bigger fish to fry in April.

Starting next weekend, they go on a run of four games in 10 days. Sevilla away, Paris Saint-Germain away, Valencia at home and then PSG at home.

Four massive games that will shape their season definitively.

That's not to say Celta should be taken lightly, of course—far from it. They showed at Camp Nou that, given the opportunities, they have the tools to do the job. In Michael Krohn-Dehli, for example, they've got a creative force playing his best football of the season.

Authors of Barca's downfall earlier in the season, Nolito and Joaquin Larrivey are also enjoying a decent run of form.

Eduardo Berizzo has every reason to feel that his team can offer something when they kick off against La Liga's top side on Sunday night.

It's a tall order, but by beating the Catalans and with results going their way elsewhere, Celta's aspirations of European football might not be so much of a pipe dream after all.

In any event, "Messi-dependence" was supposed to have been a thing of the past. Consigned to the history books.

But if they allow the Argentinian to play at Celta, it shows that, beyond doubt, and even with the additions of Neymar and Luis Suarez, Messi is still the go-to guy.

We've been here before, of course, and the situation has a very familiar ring to it.

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Fb Messi: "My swollen foot still hurts a bit, but I hope to recover soon so I can help the national team and Barça." pic.twitter.com/axngqVFfkN

— barcastuff (@barcastuff) April 2, 2015"

Back in March 2013, Messi was beginning to struggle with injuries after a stellar season, yet the powers-that-be decided that the first XI couldn't do without him.

Although he did play internationally for Argentina, he was sick on the pitch at altitude vs. Bolivia and, upon his return to Barca, was asked to play against Celta just a few days before facing PSG in the Champions League quarter-finals.

The extra load placed on his shoulders was certainly a contributory factor in him having to leave the field early against PSG, only made worse by him being thrust back into the fray in the second leg when he was clearly far from fit.

Jen Evelyn of Inside Spanish Football noted at the time:

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Barcelona took a gamble, and as easy as it is to say it now; they failed. The first failure happened in March as Messi wasn’t allowed a rest after his trip to Bolivia.

The second failure happened when Messi was rushed back to save his team in the Champions League. Barcelona knew that they could get it all with this gamble, but in the end, they ended up with nothing.

It was a risk, and many might question whether it was worth taking or not.

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Bayern Munich were next up in European football's premier competition and Messi's contribution was negligible in that game at best. Another injury soon followed.

With that in mind, you have to question again why there is even consideration being giving to Messi starting the Celta game.

He has played the most minutes of every player in the side this season bar Claudio Bravo, per WhoScored.com. Therefore, a rest for a few extra days will surely be of benefit if Messi isn't at 100 per cent.

If Barca haven't learned from their mistakes, then frankly they deserve everything that happens from this point, including Champions League elimination if it comes.