Why 30 Is a Realistic Goals Target for Barcelona's Luis Suarez in La Liga
On paper, telling Luis Suarez he has to double his goal tally from one season to the next is quite a jump.
The Barcelona striker bagged 16 goals in 27 La Liga matches and helped his side win the treble. His total across all competitions was 25 in 43 games, which is a strong haul in a debut campaign.
But he should be able to improve in the season that lies ahead, for four key reasons.
Firstly, he will get the chance to have a proper pre-season campaign. Last year, he was denied that because of his suspension for biting Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup.
Suarez was banned from all football-related activity, and for a while that meant he couldn't even train with his team-mates.
Instead he took to running in the hills above Barcelona to try to keep his fitness high.
When he was finally given permission to link up with the squad, coach Luis Enrique introduced him as a prisoner freed from Guantanamo Bay.
Suarez wrote in his book, h/t the Daily Mail:
"It wasn't the most orthodox of presentations to the rest of the squad either, the day I was finally allowed to train with the team.
Barcelona's manager Luis Enrique gathered in the players and told them: "Well, they have finally got him out of Guantanamo to be here with us today for training..."
Everyone applauded the released prisoner and I did my best not to look too embarrassed about being the centre of attention.
"
Suarez is now settled and happy at the club and getting to play in the International Champions Cup clashes will only help him get up to speed ahead of the new season.
He has already found the net, lashing home after good work by Marc Bartra, against LA Galaxy in Barcelona's first game of their USA tour.
The second reason Suarez will be able to notch more goals this year is because he will be allowed to play more games.
That FIFA ban kept him out of action until the end of October, with his debut coming in a painful 3-1 Clasico defeat at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Of course, Suarez got his revenge later in the season when Real Madrid came calling at the Camp Nou, with his goal being the one that won Barcelona the game and, in effect, the title.
Suarez will be hoping to play around 10 more league games than he did last season.
Barcelona's strikeforce of Messi, Neymar and Suarez himself is the finest in the world, and Luis Enrique knows not to tinker with it too much.
Messi played in every single league match last season, and it's not out of the question for Suarez to do the same this year, particularly if Pedro Rodriguez leaves.
Reason three is again linked with a spell that won't be repeated.
Suarez started off on the right for Barcelona, and although he racked up a few assists, his goal tally left a lot to be desired.
It took him eight games to score his first league goal, but after that he never went more than one game without scoring in the Spanish top flight.
He's found his feet and is enjoying playing in the centre, with Messi and Neymar supplying him from either side.
Of course, the Argentine is still the main man, regardless of Suarez's position, but that suits the Uruguayan just fine.
Finally, the fourth reason Suarez will continue to improve at the club is the strength of his relationship with those two forwards.
With each game they play, they seem closer together in spirit and ideas.
Just as Messi and Neymar's relationship on the pitch leapt forward in their second season together, you would expect Suarez's to as well.
And off the pitch, it's well known they have all become good friends.
Suarez is happy and at the club of his dreams. So if he racks up 30 goals next season, there's no reason to be surprised in the slightest.
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