BARCELONA. — Dani Alves has warned his Barcelona side against complacency when they host a Paris Saint-Germain side bolstered by the return of key personnel through suspension to the Camp Nou tonight. Two goals from Luis Suarez took Barca to the brink of a seventh Champions League semi-final in eight seasons as they romped to a 3-1 win in the first-leg of the quarter-final tie in Paris last week.

Suarez says he was nervous at the prospect of playing alongside Lionel Messi and Neymar when he joined the club.

The Uruguayan, who arrived under a cloud following his ban for biting at last year’s World Cup, has made a rapid adjustment to life at the Catalan club and has scored vital goals to help put them on course for a treble.

Suarez has scored 19 goals in all competitions but most importantly he has found the net in key games.

“When I arrived I was timid with Messi and Neymar but they just said to me to play as I had done at Liverpool. Now I feel fine off and on the pitch and we have a good time together,” Suarez told a news conference yesterday.

Suarez said he has concentrated on being level-headed and that his teammates have helped him fit in at the club.

“I always have gone out to try and do well and I didn’t listen when it was said that I was the best in the world or the worst. I am very self-critical and I carry myself the same,” Suarez said.

“When things were not going well for me I was grateful for the support of people close to me.

“The players always were behind me and so was the coach.

“At the moment I feel that I am helping the team with goals and assists but as long as the team is doing well then I am happy as well. It is not important who scores as long as the team progresses.”

A late own goal from Jeremy Mathieu offered the French champions a glimmer of hope as they welcome back top-scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic and midfield maestro Marco Verratti.

“We will not speculate with the result because we don’t know how to,” Alves, who has been linked with a move to PSG come the end of the season, told Barca’s website. — AFP.

You Might Also Like

Comments

Take our Survey

We value your opinion! Take a moment to complete our survey