Messi casino trip played down

     Barcelona boss Luis Enrique has refused to condemn Gerard Pique and Lionel Messi’s trip to a casino just hours before the squad flew to England for their Champions League clash with Manchester City.

Pique and Messi – part of the Barcelona side that suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to Malaga at the weekend – were pictured outside the Casino de Barcelona late on Sunday alongside Chelsea’s Cesc Fabregas.

But Enrique had no interest in speaking about ”gossip” at his pre-Manchester City press conference, claiming his squad were fully focused on the challenge ahead of them at the Etihad.

“No gossip. Not interested,” the coach said. “It forms part of his private life. I concentrate on football. I’m not concerned about things outside of it.”

When Pique was asked by Spanish journalists if he had anything to say about his night out with Messi, the former Manchester United defender replied, “No. It is my private life. I just had a nice night.”

Speaking on Revista de la Liga journalist Graham Hunter said he thinks Luis Enrique’s position at Barcelona is now in jeopardy

Barcelona won 11 consecutive games before suffering defeat at the weekend and Enrique – whose relationship with Messi is reported to have been strained at times this term – was once again asked about morale in the camp.

But Pique quashed any talks of problems or in-fighting.

“No, there is no problem between us and the manager,” he said. “We get on fine, the relationship is good. We don’t have to worry about it. It is just one defeat, it is behind us now.

“We have shown how we can play here in the past.”