Selfless Suarez Is Perfect Messi Foil

Where David Villa, Samuel Eto'o and Zlatan Ibrahimovic have struggled, Luis Suarez has thrived. That's what happens when a Barca striker makes sacrifices...

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It was worth a one-season experiment to see whether Mauricio Pochettino could coax the potential out of Tottenham's squad but it has failed; money is needed

There was a lot to enjoy about Barcelona's goal in their 1-0 win over Manchester City in the Nou Camp. Firstly, there was the skill by Lionel Messi in collecting the ball and the expert trajectory of his subsequent pass to Ivan Rakitic. Then there was the finish by the Croatian midfielder, lofting the ball over Joe Hart and tantalisingly beyond the backtracking City defenders.
But in the Sky Sports studio, Thierry Henry's attention had been captured by the movement of a third Barcelona player. Luis Suarez had not touched the ball in the build-up, but his run to the right touchline had not only sucked Martin Demichelis with him but it had dragged the entire City defence across - creating the space for Rakitic to run into.
"That's why Suarez is vital to the team because he creates goals for others by moving," Henry told Sky Sports. Having gone from being the undisputed main man at Arsenal to Barca's third-highest goalscorer behind Messi and Samuel Eto'o, Henry speaks from personal experience on the subject.
"People were a bit unfair on Suarez. Luis Enrique realised that they needed a man to stretch the defence. They needed a guy who would run in behind the defence. You can't have three guys coming short to the ball. The only guy who can do that out of three is Luis Suarez. That's why he's playing.
"Maybe you're not seeing the Luis Suarez of Liverpool and touching the ball 20 times per half. Here he's touching the ball a bit less but he's efficient. His movement and his runs are vital for Messi and Neymar to score. People love to judge strikers on goals and stuff like that but if he doesn't do what he does then there is no Barcelona."
This was not immediately appreciated in Spain among a media whose loyalties are split between the two biggest clubs, exposing him as a target for half the press in the land. The fact that Suarez did not get off the mark in La Liga until his eighth appearance left him vulnerable.
He has made up for it since and has nine goals in his last 10 games for Barca. Suarez is one of only 14 players to reach double figures in La Liga so far this season, but it's his willingness to make things happen for others that really highlights his contribution. Only three players have more assists than his tally of nine; nobody has provided more assists to Messi than the Uruguayan.
Perhaps that explains why Enrique has always appeared unconcerned about the club's new signing. He did not regard the goals as a turning point. "Ever since he started playing he has been top quality," Enrique told reporters. "And now with his goals he is doing things which are even more to the liking of our fans, but for us he has always done a special and useful job."
For Liverpool fans, the notion of Suarez as a provider of goals as well as a scorer of them is nothing new. As well as claiming the European golden shoe last season, he also provided 12 assists and, perhaps most impressively, fashioned 22 clear chances for his team-mates. Nobody else in the Premier League created more than 13 such opportunities.
His lay-off to Raheem Sterling when clean through against Cardiff in December of last season was one memorable example of this selflessness. "He's through on goal and you don't see too many strikers do that," said Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers. "It shows you the team player that he is." No wonder Messi is enjoying life alongside his fellow South American. It hasn't always been that way with his fellow Barcelona forwards.
Eto'o and David Villa scored in Champions League finals for Barca, while Zlatan Ibrahimovic remains a feared forward, but each had their relationship with Messi scrutinised. Suarez is faring better in that department. "Messi seems very comfortable with him and Neymar too," former Barca striker 'Pichi' Alonso told Sport. "And that is something that has not happened with Villa, Eto'o or Ibra."
Ibrahimovic's Paris St Germain are Barcelona's next Champions League opponents, with the first leg of their quarter-final in the French capital on Wednesday. Of course, it will be Messi to whom Barcelona will turn in search of inspiration. But it seems that the little genius now has the supporting cast to help bring out the very best from him once again. Expect the selfless Suarez to play his part.