Guillem Balague believes lingering muscle problems could partly explain Lionel Messis dip in form for Barcelona.The Argentina international failed to score for the fifth consecutive game as his side crashed out of the Champions League to Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.And Balague, who says Messis recent tendency to drop into midfield is limiting his effectiveness, thinks the Barca star is in pain. Lionel Messi was largely on the periphery as Barcelona were knocked out by Atletico Madrid When asked to explain Messis form on Sky Sports News HQ, Balague said: He has not scored in five games, and Barcelona depend on a very good Messi.Theres two ways to explain this. First, you look at him and hes dropping deeper, hes walking instead of running - although he normally does that - and he doesnt look as sharp. Whats up with Barca? Barcelona out: Reliance on Messi, Neymar and Suarez proves costly When he doesnt feel sharp he doesnt get in the box. As a midfielder, hes good but hes not that great.But you can also explain it in a different way. Minutes after the Atletico Madrid game finished a story came out that he has been struggling with muscle problems. Not an injury as such, but about three weeks ago he went to Venice to see a nutritionist and he was asking him, Why is it I dont feel well at the moment?It could be the training and hes in pain certainly, and all those things have made him perform at a lesser level.Some will say its just excuses, but look back at his last five games and you can see it hasnt been the same Messi. Ive checked with the family and the muscle issues are one of the problems that is worrying him. Antoine Griezmann scored once in each half to send Atletico Madrid into the Champions League semi-finals Barca have lost three of their last four matches in all competitions, but sit three points clear of Atletico in La Liga and remain on course for a league and cup double.And Balague believes La Liga and Copa Del Rey titles will still represent a strong season, even if they failed in their pursuit of back-to-back trebles. This is what were used to seeing from Lionel Messi. They can still win the league and the cup, but nobody is talking about that because it has been a surprising demise in the last month, he added.Winning after winning is so difficult and to keep at that level for so long is almost impossible.Imagine if they do win the league, it means they will have had a good season, but if they also beat Sevilla in the cup, its a very good season. But at this point the Champions League blurs everything else and it looks like something is missing. Luis Enrique took full responsibility for Barcelonas Champions League defeat The main culprit according to the media in Catalonia is Luis Enrique, who hasnt done some of the things that made Barcelona good last season.Enrique has to be the coach and say Neymar you havent scored since mid-March and Messi perhaps you should rest too.But now there are seven games left and its difficult to tell them that because everyone wants to play as soon as possible and bounce back from what has been a hurtful defeat. Win a t-lab Peloton t-shirt We have teamed up with original British mens t-shirt label t-lab in our new giveawayAlso See:Whats up with Barca?Griezmann knocks Barca outHow Spain reacted to Barca lossEnrique: Im to blame for exitAuthentic Custom Panthers Jersey . 1 position. The Mustangs (6-0), who beat Queens 50-31 last weekend, earned 17 first-place votes and 287 points in voting by the Football Reporters of Canada. Western was last ranked first in the country in October 2011. Cheap Panthers Jerseys .Y. -- Bills receiver Stevie Johnson has a bone to pick with the NFL schedule maker. http://www.customnhlpanthersjersey.com/custom-bill-torrey-jersey-large-72d.html . The winner Saturday will remain in the elite 10-team field next year. "We talked about wanting to be disciplined and stick with our game plan and good things will come," Draisaitl said, who had two goals for the victors. Custom Panthers Jerseys . Its sharpness matched my mind. This was no night to go to sleep. Cheap Custom Panthers Jersey . During the athletes parade, the 23-strong Ukrainian team was represented by a lone flagbearer in an apparent protest at the presence of Russian troops in Ukraines Crimean peninsula.INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- A day after writing that he is endorsing Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton for president, the Cavs LeBron James said he didnt want his words to be misinterpreted.Well anytime I do something, I always say I like to put it in writing form so its not, it can never be interpreted the wrong way, James said after Cleveland Cavaliers practice. It cant be uninterrupted, and those are my words and theres no way you can depict it or try to say those are my words or those are my feelings. I put it in writing so theres no way you can kind of [misinterpret them]. You get a great understanding of how I feel, so I like to do it that way.James famously announced his decision to leave the Miami Heat and return to the Cavs in the summer of 2014 in a story written for Sports Illustrated. In the Clinton essay, published online Sunday evening on Business Insider and later in the Monday print edition of the Akron Beacon Journal, James writes that Clintons shared interest with him when it comes to community outreach, emphasizing education and recognizing the importance of building strong race relations in the United States has caused her to garner his support.James also writes that Clinton will build on the legacy established by current President Obama, whom James has become close with in Obamas two terms in office.Weve become really good friends and from Day 1 I just always liked his vision, especially from a community standpoint, James said Monday. And I believe Hillary can continue that legacy that Barack has done for the last eight years. You guys know how important my community service is, especially in my hometown. Thats a main point for me.Clinton was scheduled to appear in James hometown of Akron, Ohio, on Monday at an Ohio Democratic Party voter registration event at Goodyear Hall, eight days before the Ohio voter registration deadline.James said the Cavs training camp schedule would preclude him from seeing Clinton in person.I know shes actually in my hometown today, and because we have two practices today I wont be able to attend that, but weve been in communication about doing something and well figure it out, James said. Obviously, my letter going out, it said enough if Im not able to accomplish that. You know who Ill be voting for.In late October 2008, less than a week before the election, James and hip-hop artist Jay Z hosted a free concert at Quicken Loans Arena in support of Obamas candidacy dubbed the Last Chance for Change rally. Earlier that month he spoke at a voter registration rally alongside producer and entrepreneur Russell Simmons.Quicken Loans Arena also happens to be the place where Donald Trump accepted the presidential nomination at the Republican National Convention. Asked about Trump appearinng in the same building he plays his home games in, James said, It didnt bother me.dddddddddddd I knew who Im going to be behind and, it just happened that way. I have no control over that, so it didnt bother me. It didnt stop me from doing my day job, so. But I know who I am endorsing, who Im getting behind, and thats all that matters.Trump held a fundraiser in Detroit last week at a building belonging to Cavs owner Dan Gilbert. However, the Republican Party paid to rent the space, a source with knowledge of the event told ESPN.James, 31, has been eligible to vote since the 2004 presidential election between George W. Bush and John Kerry. He was asked how this years election compares to others in his lifetime.I dont know, James said. I think they are all different in their own right. Obviously in 08, I was big on Barack just for multiple reasons; most of all his vision and also having a change because I feel like he had the mindset to make that happen and you know I got out and spoke about it. And Im doing the same thing today. Its hard to say in my lifetime because I havent been always able to vote and Im not a political guy ... Im not into politics, but I know what I stand by, so, today I know what its about.James later echoed the mission statement of his LeBron James Family Foundation when asked what he hoped to accomplish by endorsing Clinton.For me, the main thing is going back into the communities and giving our world a better future, James said. Our kids are our future and I believe Barack started it and I believe Hillary is going to continue it. So, Im all about communities. It starts from the ground up and if we can continue to give back to communities and do the things we need to do to help these kids understand that theyre our future and know that they got a helping hand, it makes this world a better place.James released his endorsement less than a week after the first presidential debate between Clinton and Trump, but he said the 90-minute spectacle did not impact his choice.I didnt need the debate, James said. It was just, when Im ready to speak on something I do it and obviously you can go back behind the letter and see why I endorsed Hillary.Clintons husband, former President Bill Clinton, lauded James for his stance.James said he was not trying to influence voters in the swing state of Ohio through his endorsement. No Democratic candidate has won the presidential election without winning Ohio and its 18 electoral votes since John F. Kennedy in 1960.I didnt do it for that, James said. I did it because its what me and my family believe in, its what we want, and hopefully it happens. ' ' '