Luis Suarez said on Thursday he felt “privileged” after scoring four goals against Deportivo La Coruna to move ahead of former Brazil striker Ronaldo’s tally of 48 goals in a season for Barcelona, Skysports reports.
The Uruguayan, who moved on to 49 goals in 48 games in the campaign, inspired Barca to an 8-0 rout of Deportivo, ending a run of four games without a league win and reigniting their bid to retain the La Liga title.“I feel privileged and proud to overtake Ronaldo for what he did for Barca and in world football, it’s a privilege to overtake a football great like him,” the former Liverpool striker said.
Suarez also provided three assists in the demolition of Deportivo at the Estadio Riazor, becoming the first player in La Liga history to be directly involved in seven goals in a game.
Ronaldo’s tally of 48 goals in his only season at the Camp Nou in 1996/97 is the joint-second highest numbers of goals scored by a Barca player, with the Brazilian and Suarez a long way from eclipsing Lionel Messi 73-goal haul in 2011/12.
The Uruguayan said it was important to get back to winning ways against Deportivo three consecutive league defeats – for the first time since 2003 – allowed Atletico and Real Madrid to move level and to within a point of the leaders.
“We were really keen to win as we had gone many games without winning,” he added.
“We are human and it hurts when you lose, but we got the win and we were superior so we feel more relaxed now.
Neymar ended his month-long goal drought with Barca’s eighth at Deportivo, and Suarez leaped to the defence of fellow strike partner, whose recent form has been criticised.
“We are humans, not machines, we can have ups and down and it hurts that everyone has blamed him,” Suarez said.
“When we won everything last year no one said it was just because of Neymar and it’s not all his fault now.”