Man Utd transfer news: Luis Suarez has made a major statement on Phil Coutinho amidst his transfer links to Man Utd and Chelsea.
Phil Coutinho has had a struggling season at Barcelona. The Brazilian attacker has scored only five goals in 32 La Liga appearances this season.
The fans and pundits have criticised Coutinho for his inconsistent performances, and as a result, there have been growing speculations over his move away from Camp Nou.
Manchester United and Chelsea are widely linked as the preferred destinations for the Brazilian star.
Coutinho’s Barcelona teammate, Luis Suarez, meanwhile, has spoken on the player’s situation at the club. Suarez, like Coutinho, joined the Catalan side from Liverpool five years ago. He has given advice to Coutinho on what he has to do if he wants to stay at Barcelona.
Man Utd transfer news: Suarez on Coutinho
The Uruguayan striker has warned Coutinho that criticism is a part of life at Barcelona, and he needs to develop “mental strength” to perform consistently.
“Barcelona players have to live with constant criticism: you have to have the internal mental strength to overcome bad moments,” Suarez began.
“Philippe is a friend, he’s young, and I try to advise him. At Liverpool he proved the player he is. It was hard for me and I told him it would be the same.”
Suarez further stated that mistakes are magnified at a big club like Barcelona but Coutinho has the trust of his teammates.
“You have to accept criticism but the most important thing is that he’s comfortable, happy, his team-mates trust in him, the manager trusts in him.
Players are exposed. The smallest thing you do – tiny, like Philippe did – is made bigger. The manager said it: ‘I’m surprised that you’re talking about the gesture and not the great goal he scored’, a goal that would have given him confidence.”
The striker also urged the fans to support Coutinho in the difficult times, adding that the next few weeks are important for the club as Barcelona is fighting for the Champions League title.
“Sometimes you have to understand him. If fans want a player to perform, be on his side, support him, because a player out on the pitch – and it happens to me – is not stupid.
“He hears it when he loses a ball and there’s this ‘zhhiiiiiii’, he hears that buzzing, that murmur, and that affects him.
He thinks: ‘ay, the fans, ay, if I lose another ball’. No. The fans have to support our players. If they want to win the Champions League and everything, they have to be with the player.”
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Barcelona will return to action later tonight as the side aims to wrap up the La Liga title against Levante. Take a look at the side’s predicted lineup here.
