Pique reveals Luis Enrique is still in control of the team

Tomiwa Babalola

Barcelona centre-back Gerard Pique, has stressed that coach Luis Enrique is the one calling the shots at Camp Nou despite Messi's strong personality in the dressing room.

Both Luis Enrique and Messi got on a bad note early in January when the coach sat the Argentine down in their 0-1 loss to David Moyes' side int he first Spanish league game in 2015.

Pique, who was on the core-sheet for the Catalans in their 3-1 win over Villareal in the first leg of their Copa del Rey has supported Jeremy Matthieu's assertion that the duo had an argument, but insists Luis Enrique has full control of the dressing room and does not play second-fiddle to Messi.

"Luis Enrique calls the shots more than Messi, obviously," Pique told Spanish radio programme El Partido de las 12. "He's the coach, the boss, though Leo has a lot of clout in the dressing room.

"There are disagreements in every squad. Luis Enrique and Messi had a spat, but it's a thing of the past.

"Messi is the best ever."

Pique also spoke about his own future at Barca, revealing that he wants to retire at his boyhood club.

"I love this profession more and more each day and I'd like to keep on playing," said the 28-year-old.

"I can safely say that I plan to retire here at Barca, whether that's at the end of this season or six years from now. I won't play for another club."

The Spain international then went on to defend Neymar against recent accusations that he provokes his opponents during matches.

"Nobody can say if Neymar will go on to be even better than Messi, but I can say that he is not a provocateur," Pique added. Goal