Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde has downplayed suggestions of Luis Suarez causing a disruption in the dressing room by reacting angrily towards his recent substitution.
The Uruguayan star has returned to the first-team action after having been on the sidelines for much of the first few weeks. Since his arrival, though, he has not been able to hit a great goalscoring form – unlike his former counterpart Lionel Messi. In the midweek Champions League match against Sporting Lisbon, Suarez appeared to come up with the goal that gave Barcelona a victory. However, it later turned out to be an ongoing, although the Uruguayan did play a crucial role in the lead up.
However, the 30-year-old did not seem happy with Ernesto Valverde’s decision to substitute him in the closing stages of the match. Suarez was replaced by Aleix Vidal as Barcelona looked to get away with a narrow victory over the home team.
This was always going to be a difficult game for the Catalan outfit, but they have made a 100% start to the season following this victory. Rather than keeping Suarez on the pitch, Ernesto Valverde thought that bringing on Aleix Vidal would make the team more solid at the back. However, he has had to reject suggestions that Barcelona have been going to watch this season, although they have been the highest scorers in the La Liga by a significant margin.
“It was silly, the match was too close, there was no other reason for the change,” said the Barcelona manager about Suarez’ reacting angrily towards his substitution.“Everyone is free to say what they want. I don’t get bored, especially not when we win.There are times when you win in an exciting way, scoring lots of goals, and then there are other times when you have to suffer to win. That’s how it is,” said Valverde.