Madrid’s talisman did do his best to breathe life into the title tussle with his own first-half double in Deportivo, but his 34th and 35th goals of the La Liga campaign were merely consolation. I am really proud of all of my players and the people who work with the team. “Now we have a lovely Champions League final that we want to win to make it an unforgettable year”.
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Neymar said he was happy to help Suarez, whose 40 La Liga goals for the season ensured that the Uruguay star finished top of the scorers chart, four ahead of second-placed Cristiano Ronaldo.
“Barcelona deserved to win La Liga”, admitted Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane after his side’s 2-0 victory over Deportivo La Coruna on the same day, “but you’ve got to take your hat off to what we’ve done”.
Neymar was reportedly told by Argentine team mate Javier Mascherano recently to “stop being selfish and play for the team”. “The league is a tournament that rewards regularity, and we were in the lead for several weeks, playing very good football”.
And Enrique defended his side’s record despite bowing out of the Champions League to Atletico Madrid at the quarter-final stage.
“It’s always hard to win the league and we made a bad start and were 12 points behind the leaders”.
Luis Enrique, who has won the title in both his seasons in charge of Barcelona, agreed with his rival.
Ronaldo scored twice during the first half, his 50th and 51st goals of the season, but was withdrawn at half-time, with Zidane suggesting the Portuguese had suffered a ‘heavy blow to the foot.
Barca faced a huge test just three games into the defence of their title with a visit to Champions League finalists Atletico.
Atletico Madrid geared up for the Champions League final against their city neighbours with a 2-0 victory against Celta Vigo.
Barcelona will now aim for the second straight title when they take on Sevilla in the Copa del Rey final on May 22.
“It hurts not to be in the Champions League final, especially because we know we could have made it”, he said.
Suarez opened the scoring from close range in the 22nd minute after a pass by Jordi Alba, added to the lead with a header in the 38th off a cross by Dani Alves, and netted his third after a set up by Neymar inside the area in the 86th.
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Yet, he responded with 14 in the last five games for the five wins Barca needed to hold off a late-season surge by Real.
