Thursday 13 August 2015 09:02, UK
Luis Suarez’s second season at Barcelona player could be even better than his first, writes Adam Bate.
When the news came over the wires that a Barcelona forward had headbutted an opponent, Luis Suarez’s lawyers were probably already drafting the apology. But the indiscretion against Roma belonged to Lionel Messi. Meanwhile, Suarez has been the forward quietly going about his business - Barca’s top scorer during pre-season.
What a difference a year makes. Suarez didn’t even have a proper pre-season in 2014 after biting Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup and subsequently serving a ban that was finally lifted in late October. The season ended in style, however, with the winning goal against Chiellini’s Juventus in the Champions League final in Berlin.
That was Suarez’s season in microcosm. In between, it was a tale of constant improvement. He had to survive the early question marks over his impact after failing to score in his first seven La Liga appearances. Marca even pointed out that only three forwards in 50 years had taken so long to get off the mark. None had succeeded. None had cost £65m.
And yet, things changed dramatically during the second half of the season. Indeed, it was arguably the new signing who was driving Barcelona on during that key part of the campaign - a period in which the team had faded in recent seasons. With Suarez around, the story had a different outcome.
His brilliant brace against Manchester City in the Champions League in February began a period of 16 matches in which the Uruguayan scored 17 goals. Such form should not have come as a surprise. Suarez has a history of taking time to adapt before becoming an unstoppable force for his new side.
Even in the Eredivisie with Ajax, his first season proved a learning process following a bitter departure from Groningen that culminated in a court case. Suarez performed but senior partner Klaas-Jan Huntelaar scored almost twice as many. It was only in his final full season at Ajax that he really shone - scoring 35 goals in 33 league games.
Upon his arrival at Liverpool, it was a similar story as Suarez won over the fans quickly but was far from spectacular in front of goal. Dirk Kuyt bagged eight goals to Suarez’s four, with the new man even outscored by Maxi Rodriguez who managed two hat-tricks in that time. Suarez’s first full season at Anfield yielded only 11 Premier League goals. His last brought 31.
It’s a trend and it’s an encouraging one. For while other forwards can make an immediate impact before falling away in the long term, motivation has never been the issue for Suarez. Figuring out how to fit into the team is the challenge. Once that has been overcome, there has been no looking back.
They know how much danger Barca can cause and so it can be quite difficult sometimes.
Suarez has acknowledged himself that it is “always difficult to adapt” to new surroundings. “In the Premier League… the defenders are big and strong,” he said. “I was used to them. Here they are more skilful, they complement each other and play tighter together. They know how much danger Barca can cause and so it can be quite difficult sometimes.”
Him being in that position will allow everybody to play better.
Much of Suarez’s role was to create space for others. With Messi and Neymar around, he was the foil to their sabre. The role had changed but he found a way to make it work - for everyone. “Him being in that position will allow everybody to play better,” former Barcelona forward Thierry Henry told Sky Sports.
A 6-1 win over Rayo Vallecano at the Nou Camp in March was a key moment as Suarez and Messi scored five goals between them. The burgeoning relationship between the two men was the talk of Catalonia. “He has an understanding with Messi and Luis is giving us more every time,” said Barca boss Luis Enrique. Both men were on target in Tuesday's European Super Cup win over Sevilla.
All the indications throughout Suarez’s career are that this is a player whose contribution will only increase. As he feels settled in his surroundings, Suarez can build on those relationships with world-class players and the goals will continue to flow. His first season was a success. But could Luis Suarez be about to get even better?
