Barcelona Players Are Not Unsporting – Ernesto Valverde

Ernesto Valverde is hopeful that Luis Suarez’s late equaliser against Atletico Madrid on Saturday can begin the Uruguayan international’s season.

“I thought he looked good, regardless of the goal,” Valverde said in a news conference after Suarez’s third goal of the campaign rescued the Catalan side’s unbeaten start with an 82nd-minute header.

“Obviously strikers live for goals and the confidence of a player can change [with goals]. But when they score it seems as if everything is going for them and if [they’re] not [scoring] then they’re left in the shadows.

“In this case, [Suarez] scored a goal, he had a great chance after… But even before then, in the first half, he moved well around the area and we know how terrible the traffic was in their box with their players — and ours, as well.

“The work he does for us is important and I hope it gives him confidence and he goes on a good scoring run.”

Suarez, who has now netted 124 goals since moving to Camp Nou in 2014, celebrated his goal by cupping his ear in front of the Atletico supporters, but Valverde rejected the idea that the celebration was disrespectful.

“I don’t think my players are unsporting,” the coach said.

“It’s a point to be valued against a great side in Atletico,” Valverde added. “It was difficult to break through their lines close to the area, but in the second half the game opened up more. We were exposed, although we created chances, too.

“We do go back home satisfied, although also with the feeling we could have achieved a better result. But it was a great game, each team with their own style.”