Interview: Hristo Stoichkov on Luis Suarez

Hristo Stoichkov resides in Miami and works for a giant American television network, Univision. He is currently heavily involved in broadcasting for the World Cup in Brazil. 

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What do you think about Barcelona signing Luis Suarez?

I've read about it. He is a terrific player and one of the best strikers. With the character necessary to play for a big side. But the bites will be a problem!

Why's that?

Because he is marked for life. To play at Barcelona with what he has done is a problem. All his rivals, the referees and the press will make his life difficult. He will have to play through provocation and the attention from the media will create a permanent tension. 

Did this happen to you?

A lot! Opposition players provoke you and search for violent recations, trying to get you out of the game. If you're warm blooded... buffff! Sometime's it's hard to hold back. Additionally, referees are not aware of what is being said but how you react. Every game is a psychological war. Then there is the media, which tightens on you with one well-worded sentence. It's not easy to live like this. You have to be a special person to live with this. 

You know it well, right?

Well, yes. I was wrong to stamp on Urizar (a referee, while Stoichkov played for Barca) and what came next was very hard. This will be the same for Luis Suarez.

How was that two month ban? 

It was a disaster because I loved football and not being able to play was like living without breathing. It's true that your friends and family encourage you and fans show their appreciation and team-mates pat you on the back, but at the end of the day you lie in your bed and feel down because you are not able to put on the kit. And the next week and the next. I arrived in Barcelona with many dreams to fulfill and it seemed that everything was going to hell. 

How did you overcome it?

Two factors help me. The first was a human one. Johan Cruyff defended me a lot and thought about me as a person. He gave me 10 days off and I went to spend Christmas in Bulgaria. I was surrounded by my own there and there was much less noise. I calmed down a bit there as Johan said he would rely on me until death. 

The second factor?

Believing in my abilities more than ever, working harder than anyone. I knew I was wrong and that I had failed all those who had trusted me. So, the only way to the repair the damage I had done was to come back stronger than ever and ready, and play when I could. So I did. I trained day by day, even plaiyng in a friendly in Amposta like it was the final of the European Cup. We won 3-0 and I scored two goals. 

But you have to be very strong mentally to not make the mistake of giving up?

I came to Barcelona with very clear ideas and of course I had bad moments, but came to succeed and triumphed. I tell Luis Suarez to correct his problem and fight to achieve his dreams. Today everything looks back but tomorrow the sky will clear and if the sky is the Barcelona one then that will be nicer still. 

What should Suarez do now? 

Relax. Mentaly release is mistake and think that everythign will be okay. Clearly, if he has bitten three times, there is something broken within him and he needs to fix it. I know they have been working on this issue and shoudl continue because he will be under pressure 24 hours a day and cannot do wrong again. He must be positive. 

With a four month penalty how can he be positive? 

Come on. Do you know how many players would pay to play at Barcelona? He must prepare to come back stronger. In the meantime his lawyers and representatives can fight the penalty and in the end it will be lower, I think. 

What would you say to Josep Maria Bartomeu on what is good for Suarez?

I'm not one to tell the president of Barcelona what to do! Nor do I think my opinion matters much. We see things very differently. I would say I am here if you need me. And if my experience can be good for Suarez then do not hesitate, I am here!

Is Suarez the future Stoichkov? 

You need to complicate life more and more! Luis is Luis and he is good. Do you think it is good to compare him to me or any other player who has done well at Barcelona? Let Suarez be Suarez.

But he is a player with character, like yourself...

Of course he has character, but football is this and much more. you have to see which players Luis Enrique brings in, how they cope without Valdes, Puyol or Xavi. How to mix Messi with the other forwards, etc. This is a new project and as a Cule I hope everything goes well.