Luis Suarez warned his Barcelona team-mates they cannot afford to keep relying on Lionel Messi to solve everything after a 1-1 draw at home to Athletic Bilbao on Saturday.
Messi was given a rest by coach Ernesto Valverde, seemingly with one eye on Wednesday’s Champions League trip to Tottenham, but it backfired.
Barca were 1-0 down at half-time thanks to Oscar De Marcos’ goal, with Athletic looking the greater threat in attack.
Messi was introduced early in the second period and the hosts improved as a result, with the Argentinian star inspiring an eventual equaliser, picking out Munir El Haddadi late on.
Munir’s late equaliser saves a point for @FCBarcelona #BarçaAthletic 1-1 pic.twitter.com/prb4eMQCfQ
— LaLiga (@LaLigaEN) September 29, 2018
But Suarez insists they should not have to be bailed by Messi all the time, as Barca avoided suffering a second successive LaLiga defeat following a midweek loss at Leganes.
“We cannot depend on Messi solving everything,” Suarez said.
“Many of us are here because of what we did in other teams.
“Both Lionel and [Sergio] Busquets gave us a lot, but we do not only depend on them.”
Barca have dropped points in three successive LaLiga matches following a 2-2 draw at home to Girona and Wednesday’s 2-1 defeat away to Leganes.
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