Barcelona striker Luis Suarez claims Liverpool would not have made a title challenge nor clinched a Champions League spot last season without him.
The Uruguayan International, who switched to Barcelona in the summer, mad e these comments ahead of musch awaited return from a four-month ban for biting Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup.
Suarez scored 31 goals for Liverpool last season, said : “I really could leave happy because if I hadn’t had the attitude and mentality to lead the team, I don’t think Liverpool would have done as well as they did.
“Getting back into the Champions League was another target I had in mind.
“Personal success is always welcome and makes you happy, because that’s recognition of the good work you have done.
“But I put the team ahead of that and last season Liverpool came so close to winning the Premier League, which would have been spectacular.
“I appreciate all the work the team did. But I missed six matches and scored all those goals in the Premier League without being the penalty-taker.”
Since his departure, Liverpool have been unable to recapture their form of last season. They have already lost three games this season to Manchester City, West Ham and Aston Villa respectively. They also lost to Basel in the Champions league.
In the interview, Suarez discussed his FA ban for making racist comments at former United player Patrice Evra and retains his innocence in the row that ensued between himself and the player.
He has remained unrepentant ever since however and once again maintained he was left upset after being punished. He went on: “When I say I’m sorry it’s because I regret something. Being sorry implies regret.
“But they have also sometimes judged me on things that aren’t true, such as the racism thing.
“I was accused without evidence and that’s what grieved me the most. The others were actions when it was me who did wrong. I accepted that and begged forgiveness, but the racism thing, when I was accused without evidence, that did upset me.”