Barcelona coach Luis Enrique denied Lionel Messi's form had ever dipped this season, after the Argentine scored a hat trick in Sunday evening's 4-0 La Liga win at Deportivo La Coruna.
Messi, who has reportedly not always seen eye-to-eye with his boss over recent weeks, had not scored away from the Camp Nou in La Liga since early October.
But with 62 minutes played at Riazor he had already claimed the match ball against a crumbling Depor defence, thanks to a powerful header, deftly lifted finish and then powerful low shot after a short-corner routine.
The Blaugrana coach told his postgame news conference that he personally believed Messi has been playing excellently all year, without any drop-off.
"[Messi] has been playing at a really high level all season," Luis Enrique said. "He has not dipped at any moment. He is at the level of a world-class 'crack' [superstar]."
The scoring was completed with an own goal from Depor defender Sidnei, with the result seeing Barca reach the halfway mark of the season in second place, one point behind leaders Real Madrid -- who have played a game less.
The result also saw an upturn in Barca's fortunes on the road after their previous two league games had seen the team pick up just one point and failing to score at Getafe and Real Sociedad -- where Luis Enrique and Messi reportedly rowed after the Argentine was left out of the starting XI.
The Asturian denied here that anything had occurred outside the usual swings and roundabouts of a season, while pointing out his team's defensive displays had always been good.
"Over a season there will be good games, bad games and normal games, and an opponent who also plays" he said. "We have always had defensive intensity away from home. The improvement has come in creating danger for the opponent, and avoiding their counter-attacks."
The fine performance coincided with Barca starting the same XI which won 3-1 at home to Atletico Madrid last week, the first time in 29 games that the former Roma and Celta Vigo coach has repeated a lineup all season.
Luis Enrique said he did not have a particular method he stuck to when choosing his side, adding that keeping competition within his squad was a positive.
"There is one way to which I have to be faithful," he said. "I put out the XI which can work best. We are stronger when more players are able to join in our cause.
"The objective is always to be competitive. And we must be efficient in both defence and attack. But there are things to improve in both areas. Victories help."
With this game won early, Luis Enrique was able to remove key players Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta and Neymar, and said this was done with at least some thought on Wednesday's Copa del Rey quarterfinal first leg at home to Atletico Madrid.