Barcelona have been forced to defend club-record signing Luis Suarez after the former Liverpool man put on another disappointing performance against Atletico Madrid in the Coppa del Rey on Wednesday night.
Barca’s record £75mm summer signing from Liverpool has looked a shadow of the player who terrorized Premier League defense the last two season and he scored only five goals in 16 appearances with Barca. Against Atleti, Suarez looked off the pace and missed a sitter from six yards out after being played in by Ivan Rakitic.
However, Suarez still retains the support of figures at the club, with Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu and coach Luis Enrique confident the goals will start to arrive on a more regular basis for the 27-year-old.
Bartomeu said: “We have very high expectations, he is a great player. He has the support and the affection of the people.”
Meanwhile, Enrique added:
“Perhaps he didn’t have the fortune to score today but he fixed himself to the centre-backs very well, he gave us solutions, he was a danger near the area. The goals will come, there are no doubts with him.”
