GOAL

Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez says he expected Luis Suarez to need a period of adaptation following his summer switch to Barcelona but feels he can improve as a player at Camp Nou.

The Uruguay coach says he expected the former Liverpool striker to need time to find his feet at Camp Nou but believes he will become and even better player in Spain

The former Liverpool star joined the Spanish giants for a fee of around €94 million in July 2014 as the Premier League’s top scorer with 31 goals, but has found the net just four times in 15 Liga outings with Barca.

And Tabarez says he anticipated the 28-year-old would make a relatively slow start at Camp Nou.

"I knew that Luis would need to adapt because with Uruguay he is given greater freedom of space,” Tabarez told a press conference.

“We favour a game that leaves him one-on-one with defenders and so if he loses the ball does not affect the team.

"It was logical, but I have seen a lot of signs that Luis is adapting very quickly. He has progressed and I think he will become a better player.”

He added: "I was very happy that he joined Barcelona who will provide him their whole structure and its amazing football culture.”

Barcelona stumbled to a surprise 1-0 defeat at home to Malaga on Saturday - coupled with November’s defeat to Celta Vigo it marked the first time they lost more than a single home league game in a season since the 2008/09 campaign.

Victory for Real Madrid at Elche on Sunday would leave Barca four points behind their rivals at the top of the table.