Luis Suarez on Messi: The Barcelona forward gave a detailed interview to Spanish outlet Sport after Barca’s stunning 6-1 win over Sevilla.
Barcelona registered an emphatic comeback in the quarterfinal of the Copa del Rey earlier this week.
The side was 0-2 down in the first leg of the tie but scored six past Pablo Machin’s side in an incredible turnaround at the Camp Nou.
Ernesto Valverde’s side has been drawn with arch-rivals Real Madrid in the semifinal of the competition and will play the first leg at Camp Nou next week.
Meanwhile, Luis Suarez, who is the second-highest goalscorer in the La Liga at the moment after Lionel Messi, had a lengthy conversation with Spanish media outlet Sport, where he reflected on various things surrounding his life at Barcelona.
Luis Suarez on Messi:
One cannot have a conversation about Barcelona without a mention of Lionel Messi.
Luis Suarez, who joined the Catalan side in 2014, enjoys a brilliant partnership with the Argentinian superstar, both on and off the field.
Suárez though…. Surely one of the greatest players we’ve had!!!!! His ability, capability and effectiveness increases tenfold when Messi is on the pitch alongside him.
His presence helps Messi a lot as well. We’re so lucky to have him….— Siddharth (@Draviddict) January 31, 2019
Short analysis on Rakitic’s goal.
-Arthur awareness of surroundings & space in opposition formation
-Suarez’s movement to open said space
-Messi & Rakitic with “bait and switch” movement pic.twitter.com/zWMZ6ofK8m— sm (@TacticoModerno) January 31, 2019
In the interview with Sport, Suarez talked about how Messi changed him as a footballer.
“I think it’s helped me to see how relaxed he is in matches,” Suarez said when asked about Messi’s influence on him.
“Sometimes I thought that you need to be focused the day before, or a few hours before the match. That’s what happened with me at Liverpool, with the national team and all of my previous clubs.
“And I think to see the atmosphere here, to see everyone focused, knowing what they have to do, but in a more relaxed environment has helped me.”
He went on to discuss his friendship with the Argentinian footballer.
“We don’t only talk about football. We talk about the past, the future. We’re humans that, aside from being teammates, we’re good friends who have a lot in common.
Hold up, does anyone see the similarities between the 6-1 against PSG and now against Sevilla?
– Quarter-finals
– A Brazilian scored 2 goals (Neymar; Coutinho)
– Suarez scored
– Roberto scored
– Messi scored
– A midfielder scored (Iniesta; Rakitić)
– Lucho was thereWow.
— Sᴇʀɢɪ’s Rᴜɴs ☢️ (@Robertonical) January 30, 2019
• Messi let’s Coutinho take a penalty to regain his confidence.
• Suarez passes to Messi when he is on a 1v1.
• Alba and Suarez don’t hesistate to create another open goal opportunity for Lionel Messi who manages to get a goal after an easy miss earlier.This is Barça. pic.twitter.com/NWrdX6Xkyb
— Barça Universal (@BarcaUniversal) January 30, 2019
“We can be sat talking for two or three hours. But I always say this: a lot of people see him as ‘Messi’ but for me, he’s simply Leo.”