Barcelona boss Quique Setien insisted he and Lionel Messi have a strong relationship after a palate-cleansing thumping of Deportivo Alaves got rid of a bad taste in the mouth.
Morale was low after Thursday's 2-1 home defeat to Osasuna, which came on a night when Real Madrid clinched the LaLiga title, having overtaken Barcelona on the final lap.
But now Barcelona are looking forward to their Champions League last-16 reunion with Napoli, buoyed by Sunday's 5-0 win over a shaky Alaves side on the final weekend of the Spanish season.