Quality Sport Images/Getty Images Barcelona stars Lionel Messi and Gerard Pique have reportedly had a "complete breakdown" in their relationship after clashing over a run of poor results. According to Spanish TV show "El Chiringuito de Jugones" (h/t AS), "Pique is critical of Messi for not facing up [to the press] when the going gets tough. He feels that Leo only talks when he's not in Europe, with Argentina." Meanwhile, Messi "has told him that they're letting in too many goals. He has made it apparent to Pique that [he thinks] the defence is not offering the protection it should." Barcelona are winless in three matches in La Liga after drawing with Girona and Athletic Bilbao either side of a defeat to Leganes. Messi, who was named club captain after Andres Iniesta departed in the summer, was vocal after the most recent of those and called on his team-mates to step up after the Athletic stalemate. The Argentinian was asked if Barcelona rely too much on him and told beIN Sports (h/t Marca, via ESPN's Sam Marsden): "We have the squad and the players to be a great team, to be a strong team and not depend on anyone. This is Barca. We have enough players, we don't need to depend on one." Per Marsden, Luis Suarez echoed his sentiment, adding that the team should not have to "depend on Leo coming on to sort things out" in matches they should be capable of winning without him. Videos you might like Barca's defence has been poor in recent matches, having failed to keep a clean sheet in their last five La Liga outings, and Pique has been particularly culpable. Football journalist Rik Sharma and Grup 14's Rafael Hernandez are among those who have been critical of the Spaniard: Messi may have shared concerns with Pique about his performances and the solidity of the back line, too. Even for a team of Barca's firepower, it will be difficult for them to achieve their ambitions this year if they remain so open in defence. They'll need to improve quickly given the fixtures they have coming up: Messi and Pique came up through Barca's La Masia academy together before the latter's move to Manchester United. They've won seven La Liga titles together since Pique's return as well as the UEFA Champions League three times among plenty of other honours. As a result, the pair likely feel they can be honest with one another during difficult spells, but if they're having differences they'll need to put any issues behind them to help Barca return to form.<doc-sep>Madrid-based paper ‘El Chiringuito‘ has claimed that Barcelona captain Lionel Messi and defender Gerard Pique are having a sour relationship as of current. According to the paper, Messi is not pleased with Pique over his performances lately which the Argentine believes are reason for Barcelona’s woes. On the other hand, Pique believes that Messi is not an ideal captain and that he should step up and face the media when the club is in turmoil. Moreover, Pique is not too pleased with Messi giving interviews to Argentine press and not the Spanish one, while Messi has blamed Pique for Barcelona’s defensive woes saying that the defence is leaking way too many goals. As soon as El Chiringuito made those claims, Twitter has been busy adding its two cents to the entire situation. Barcelona fans claim that the report is ‘fake’, while Madrid fans and those not having a favourable opinion of Messi and co are having a good laugh. A Barcelona-news account translated the Spanish paper’s report first, which later caught fire and spread likewise. https://twitter.com/BarcaTimes/status/1047062313331822592 ‘I hope these reports are false’ I hope these reports of a Piqué-Messi bust up are false You can’t have two of the team’s captains arguing with one another — Ricard (@ricardquintana) October 2, 2018 This user said El Chiringuito were spreading lies. https://twitter.com/imaginiuss/status/1047066438517886976 ‘Lazy journalism’ aimed at hurting Gerard Pique’s reputation Lazy journalism like this that tries to stir up controversy where there is none is why Pique made “La Decisión” with Griezmann and many of you failed to understand that. It’s mad how Pique retired from the Spanish NT and Spanish media ARE STILL after him trying to hurt his image. https://t.co/1CwTPEwYF8 — Juan (@socraticjuan) October 2, 2018 In response to the above mentioned Tweet, this user also said that the story was nothing but lies. https://twitter.com/FHagverdiyev/status/1047161957307092992 Madrid fans, however, found the entire situation pretty funny. Looks like Messi finally told Pique he sucks. pic.twitter.com/1aBagjgQC8 — M•A•J (@Ultra_Suristic) October 2, 2018 Barcelona will face Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley tomorrow at 12am Pakistan Standard Time.<doc-sep>Follow the major changes at the Nou Camp in our FREE Barca newsletter Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Lionel Messi and Gerard Pique are long-time friends but according to reports the Barcelona duo are currently at odds amid a tricky period for Ernesto Valverde's side. The Spanish champions were stunned by lowly Leganes in La Liga last week, falling to a 2-1 defeat, having drawn the previous match with Girona. And with Messi only a substitute at the weekend - rested ahead of the Champions League clash with Tottenham on Wednesday - the Catalan giants were held 1-1 by Athletic Bilbao at Camp Nou. Argentine superstar Messi is captain this season following Andres Iniesta's exit in the summer. But the 31-year-old has said little after the first of those two fixtures - something Pique is believed to have taken exception with. (Image: AFP) (Image: REX/Shutterstock) According to reports in Spain, there has been a 'complete breakdown' in the long-standing relationship between the pair. " El Chiringuito de Jugones " claims Pique has hit out at Messi for not facing the press when the going gets tough, claiming Messi only faces the media when back home in Argentina. It's claimed Messi's response was to hit back at Pique and the side's defence, stating that they're conceding too many goals and that the defence needs to do more. Noticeably the Argentine then fronted up in the wake of the Athletic result. When asked if the squad is too dependant on him, he stated: "We have the squad and the players to be a great team, to be a strong team and not depend on anyone. This is Barca. We have enough players, we don't need to depend on one." (Image: Getty Images Europe) Pique scored in the 2-2 draw with Girona, but the former Spanish international has been heavily criticised in his homeland for his performances thus far this term. Already Barcelona have conceded eight times in seven La Liga matches - no side in the top seven has conceded more - conceding in each of their last five games and Pique has been culpable of a number of errors. Messi meanwhile has scored eight times and added five assists in nine games in all competitions thus far. But his comments at the weekend appear telling, particularly in a season where he and others at the club have placed added pressure on themselves to end Real Madrid's Champions League dominance. (Image: SIPA USA) Los Blancos were well off the pace in La Liga last term, while Barcelona lost only one league game all season. But for some, all people think about when pointing to the two sides' seasons is Madrid's success in Kiev and Barca's quarter-final collapse against Roma; their domestic double largely forgotten. That goes some way to explaining Valverde's decisions to rotate his squad during a run of three La Liga games in seven days. And with both Atletico and Real being unable to truly take advantage of Barca's slip, they remain top of the table. A squad that lost a leader in Iniesta but was bolstered by summer signings such as Arturo Vidal, Clement Lenglet and Malcom is still looking to find its rhythm. (Image: REUTERS) But the questions surrounding arguably their two most important players - certainly two of their most decorated - will need answering. The best way for that to happen is with victory on their first return to Wembley since the 2011 Champions League final. On that night they blew Manchester United away, but they have managed just one European triumph in seven seasons since. "It's time we won the Champions League," Messi told Catalunya Radio last month. That's something Pique will no doubt agree with. To do so, Barcelona need the pair on the same page.<doc-sep>Messi and Pique have been friends since they were in La Masia together When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. Messi, who last year signed a new contract to last until 2021, has been friends with Pique since the pair were part of Barcelona’s youth set-up La Masia. Pique has reportedly called out Messi for his lack of a media presence, saying that the legendary forward only talks to press when he is with Argentina. Messi is said to have hit back by claiming that Pique is at fault for Barcelona’s poor form recently. The Catalan club have hit a bumpy stretch since thrashing PSV Eindhoven 4-0 in the Champions League.<doc-sep>
LaLiga giants Barcelona are faced with more problems than dropping points in two of their last three league games, if reports are to be believed. Lionel Messi and Gerard Pique, who are long-time teammates, are reportedly having a rift between them, according to Spanish outlet El Chiringuito de Jugones. The duo have become good friends since their days at Barcelona's La Masia academy. Ernesto Valverde's Barcelona fell to a 2-1 defeat to Leganes last week and recently drew in matches against Girona and Athletic Bilbao, games in which Messi appeared unlike himself, even talking down match officials. Teammate Pique has reportedly reprimanded Messi for his inability to face the media in Spain when things get tough. According to the Spanish outlet, the Ballon d'Or winner's willingness to speak to the Argentine press alone has angered the Spanish defender. Messi has reportedly responded to Pique by criticizing Barcelona's defence, stating that the side has conceded way too many goals and that the defence needs to do more work. The Spanish defender has recently been subjected to criticism from fans and the media owing to defensive mistakes he made in recent games. Messi, on the other hand, has scored eight goals and bagged five assists in all competitions so far this campaign with a record-breaking hat-trick in the Champions League as well. The pressure at Camp Nou has undoubtedly increased as league rivals Real Madrid won the Champions League last season. On being asked if the Barcelona squad were too dependent on him, the Argentine ace said, "We have the squad and the players to be a great team, to be a strong team and not depend on anyone. This is Barca. We have enough players, we don’t need to depend on one." Fans have now responded to the reports on social media: Looks like Messi finally told Pique he sucks. pic.twitter.com/1aBagjgQC8 — M•A•J (@Ultra_Suristic) October 2, 2018 Serious fight between Pique and Messi after a series of bad results for Barcelona Pique believes Messi isn't a good enough Captain. He doesn't motivate the team enough and Messi believes Pique isn't a good defender and he isn't totally focused. Both are right to be honest😂😂 pic.twitter.com/mPM0NyQXbf — Prashidda Madridista (@prashidda4) October 2, 2018 There's no problem. Madrid based media made fake story that Pique wants Messi to talk and Leo blame Geri for our games — Zoe 💭 (@imaginiuss) October 2, 2018 Pique should be captain in my opinion, Messi is the G.O.A.T he should focus on being the G.O.A.T let another worry about the team and the press. — Syrendagod (@syrendagod) October 2, 2018 how dare pique criticise messi after all he's been fropping stinker after stinker — Ilyas (@Ilyas_Abshir) October 2, 2018 Beyond all the defensive atrocities pique's most important problem is messi not talking more to the media. Interesting — Roshan (@Lethal_lio) October 2, 2018 AS id claiming a “breakout” between Messi and Piqué. Bullshit fake news from Madrid with the intention to create drama and spread negativity. Not the first time they’ve tried to do that. — De ara Torres (@dearatorres) October 2, 2018 Messi is right, Pique has been shocking recently. He’s one of the main reasons why we have conceded. — Olivier Lansdowne (@lansdowne34) October 2, 2018 The LaLiga giants are set to continue their European journey tonight against Premier League side Tottenham Hotspurs.