Barcelona must be self-critical says striker Luis Suarez

Striker admits Barcelona let league title slip away.

Luis Suarez is one of the heavyweights in the Barcelona dressing. Alongside Lionel Messi and Gerard Pique, when he talks people listen.

He gave an interview with both Catalan papers where he answered a variety of questions centering on the team’s struggles this season. One such question involved the remaining league fixtures and on their chances to win the title.

More from Everything Barca

• FC Barcelona tracking Belgian Wonderkid
• FC Barcelona vs Betis Player Ratings
• Barça boss Xavi to get contract extension
• FC Barcelona planning swoop for Arsenal midfielder
• Barcelona interested in €30 million wonderkid

"In La Liga we have to be self-critical: we let it escape ourselves. We were aware that it depended on us and not try to find any excuse. Now, for our pride and the prestige of Barça, we have to win the two games that we have left and then focus completely on the only title we can fight, which is the Champions League.”Source: Mundo Deportivo"

Suarez also minimized the controversy surrounding VAR and some of the decisions that have gone Real Madrid’s way. He acknowledges that this topic was brought up by the president, Josep Maria Bartomeu, and Pique.

Instead of blaming the refereeing decisions, he says that they weren’t up to the level in certain games and that their rivals were also playing for something. He reference the Celta Vigo draw as the turning point and that their shortcomings in that game was the fatal blow in their title hopes.

"“If we had beaten Celta, we would have been better against Atletico. The blow was in Vigo, the late goal from Aspas. It hurt.”Source: Sport"

As Suarez said, the only competition they can aspire is to the Champions League. They have to face Napoli in the return leg at the Camp Nou. Get through them and they likely have a date against the tournament favorites, Bayern Munich.

VAR can only excuse so much.

Barcelona’s frustration, starting from the Sevilla match, with VAR is they obviously feel that some of the calls that went in Madrid’s favor were unwarranted. Admittedly, some of the calls Madrid got against Real Sociedad were dubious.

Add in the match against Atletico Madrid where Los Colchoneros were awarded two penalties, the last on questionable, it’s understandable why the Catalans would feel hard done by the decision makers.

But that excuse is just that. An excuse.

The fact of the matter is that Barcelona came into the restart with a two point lead. They blew that lead quickly against Sevilla and have not recovered since then.

Their play since then has been abhorrent, especially on the road, and it’s a reason why they find themselves looking up at their bitter rivals in the table.

They were all but asking for the hour in their last match against Real Valladolid. Barcelona have simply been too inconsistent this season and yet they still had a chance to win the league had they taken care of their own business.

It’s something Luis Suarez knows and it’s why he isn’t making any excuses. His time at the club may be winding down but there’s no doubt that he is a leader in the dressing room. At the end of the day, he knows that the club controlled their destiny and let it slip away.