Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre has praised Luis Suarez following the Uruguayan’s long-awaited return to action following his 10-game suspension.
After a summer of speculation linking Suarez with a move away from Anfield, the striker insisted after his first appearance of the season that he is committed to the Liverpool and fully focused on helping the club get back into the Champions League.
Suarez finally returned to the Liverpool starting line-up in his side’s 1-0 Capital One Cup defeat at Manchester United following his lengthy ban for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic last season, which followed the striker’s previous eight-game ban for clashing with Patrice Evra.
And managing director Ayre was quick to salute Suarez for the way the South American had handled himself despite being the subject of so much discussion in the live football commentary over the past couple of seasons.
“For all his controversy on the pitch, off the pitch he’s a great guy, he’s a family man and he’s very well liked. He keeps himself to himself with his family, he’s been committed he’s worked hard, trained hard.”
“It’s been difficult, and been difficult for him really. It’s always difficult being a footballer, and being a footballer like Luis Suarez you want to be on a football pitch,” admitted Ayre.
After an encouraging start to the season, Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers will be delighted to be able to call upon the services of Suarez once again. With Daniel Sturridge starting the season in sensational form, having Suarez back alongside the England man in Liverpool’s attack certainly gives the club a real chance of challenging for a top-four place and a return of Champions League football to Anfield.
And Liverpool will know their chances of keeping Suarez beyond the end of this season pretty much rely solely on the club being able to offer the striker Champions League football, an outcome that fans who bet on football know is not guaranteed.
