Barcelona 's season looked to be in real trouble back in January after defeat to David Moyes' Real Sociedad handed advantage to a rampant Real Madrid in La Liga.
Amid rumours of discontent in the dressing room, Barca had been misfiring up to that point and controversially, Neymar and Messi both started on the bench in that game, rested by the coach. Their absence was the first of the many cracks which began to show in the supposedly less than friendly relationship between Luis Enrique and his star players - particularly Messi.
Since then things have changed dramatically, with the club tantalisingly close to an incredible La Liga, Copa del Rey and Champions League treble. What was it that turned everything around?
According to Spanish press - which is always completely reliable - some inspiring messages in a Whatsapp group are to thank for the shift in momentum.

After that 1-0 defeat to Real Sociedad, Leo Messi didn't turn up for an open training session, Sporting Director Andoni Zubizaretta was sacked and the club announced a Presidential election in the summer. TURMOIL.
Sensing that this would not be a very good way to end his career at Barcelona, Xavi decided to do something about it, taking his role as captain very seriously. It was then that he texted all of his best friends via Whatsapp. The response was incredible.

A victory over Atletico Madrid on Sunday would secure the first trophy of Luis Enrique's Barcelona reign and allow Xavi to depart La Liga on a real high. Although it appears to have taken half a season for the coach to figure out what his best XI is, Xavi's role within the team is one of the most difficult things to have been successfully determined.
Now left out for high intensity, counter-attack matches, the midfielder is included in matches that need to be controlled, and has helped set the tempo for the team as they have become more ruthless in matches against weaker opposition, playing more direct football to combat rigid defences. It is he who is said to have led the motivational Whatsapp group.

Whether the Whatsapp group genuinely led to a revival or is just a convenient excuse to invent conversations between stars of the game, is a secret the players will surely take to their graves. Clearly something inspired the players to turn it around but then any team that has Lionel Messi in it usually struggles not to win most matches (FAO Argentina).
Enrique's most difficult task appears to have been simply managing the individual egos of a team who have already won everything together, and who also share a secret social media group chat. It is little wonder that his current tactical philosophy hints at having allowed Messi to just do whatever he wants and playing Luis Suarez upfront through the middle. A true genius of our time

www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/babb/11610985/Barcelona-turned-their-season-around-with-inspiring-Whatsapp-group-messages.html

like serjo

Lmao
Who are you fooling?

imagine the look on ronaldo face if we dont win anything

lets all agree to pass the ball to messi !! this cld be true

THUNDER FIRE UR ASS OP...

work dey Tincan or Ikeja if u no get work

Dyt:
Lmao
Who are you fooling?

I am not trying to cool you, did you follow the link, it's a story on the telegraph.

I didn't write the article.

Dyt:
Lmao
Who are you fooling?

I am not trying to fool you, did you follow the link, it's a story on the telegraph.

I didn't write the article.

Tymix419:
THUNDER FIRE UR ASS OP...


work dey Tincan or Ikeja if u no get work

please I would like to know why you resulted to insults? If you are aggrieved about something, there are better ways to pass the message across.