Luis Suarez says he has no
issue with Neymar’s selfishness, claiming that his Barcelona team-mate’s hunger
for goals will carry him all the way to Ballon d’Or glory.
Neymar was criticised in some quarters for taking too
much out of the ball in Sunday’s Clasico success over Real Madrid at Camp Nou.
Suarez has defended the Brazilian’s performance, though, arguing that all great
forwards are individualistic.
“He was right to try and finish his chances and not
pass,” the Uruguay international told RAC1. “Strikers are selfish.
“He is a key player and I’m convinced that he will win
the Ballon d’Or.”
Suarez was Barcelona’s hero on the night, netting the
winning goal early in the second half after brilliantly controlling a pass from
Dani Alves before firing home to earn the home side a 2-1 win that moved them
four points clear of Madrid at the top of La Liga.
However, he was not 100 per cent happy with his overall
performance, particularly in the closing stages.
“The goal obviously has
added significance because of who we were playing and in terms of La Liga,” he
said.
“At the end of the match I made some amateurish
mistakes but that was because I was tired. Luckily nothing happened.”
Barca are bidding for a treble, having already
qualified for the final of the Copa del Rey, where they will play Athletic
Bilbao, and set up a Champions League quarter-final against Paris
Saint-Germain.
The Catalans were beaten 3-2 at PSG in the group stage
before triumphing 3-1 in the return clash at Camp Nou.
Suarez is thus well aware of the threat posed by the
French titleholders but he is looking forward to the challenge.
“We are aware that to win the Champions have to beat
the best teams, starting with PSG,” he added.
