adminLONDON — Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre has admitted Luis Suarez’s racist abuse and biting incidents have damaged the English Premier League soccer club’s brand.
Suarez returned on Wednesday in the 1-0 Capital One Cup defeat at Manchester United from a 10-game suspension for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic, having previously served an eight-game ban for clashing with Patrice Evra.
Although happy to have the Uruguay striker back, Ayre said on the ban: “It was damaging to the brand but this club is bigger than one player. Luis is a street fighter and we had to deal with it.”
He was keen to praise the forward for the way he had reacted to his latest setback and added: “We’ve worked a lot with him since the Ivanovic incident and he’s back to what he’s best at — terrorising defenders.
“We all move on together. Hard work and lessons have been learnt post-Evra and we now have a process in place for any crisis. Not a Suarez crisis, just any one.”
Ayre gave Liverpool supporters some further encouragement when he described plans over the redevelopment of Anfield as having made “huge strides”.
He added: “Our ambition is to stay at Anfield, and we’re about 90 percent down the road in securing proprieties affected by redevelopment. I’m reasonably confident, the first phase will be closer to 60 000 capacity.”
Ayre was also pleased with the way he and owners Fenway Sports Group were managing the club’s operating debt and insisted that the cost of Anfield’s redevelopment had also been considered.
He said: “You should always be worried but it is important we manage the debt. The business is headed in a positive direction and we will announce numbers in January next year.
“The business is in excellent health and moving towards a profitable position. The stadium’s redevelopment is easily manageable.”
Meanwhile, Suarez vowed to make amends for a troubled spell after the Liverpool striker finally returned from suspension in Wednesday’s 1-0 defeat at Manchester United.
Suarez was back in a Liverpool shirt for the first time since the controversial Uruguay international was handed a 10-match ban last season for biting Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic.
He lacked match sharpness but played the full 90 minutes of the League Cup third round tie at Old Trafford and looked committed to the cause.
That was in contrast to his attitude early last month when he attempted to engineer a move to Arsenal after the north London club made a bid for him, in the process angering Reds manager Brendan Rodgers and the club by claiming they had reneged on a deal to allow him to leave for a side in the Champions League.
Liverpool’s principal owner John Henry waded into the matter by insisting the player would not be sold at any price and the Merseysiders kept hold of their prize asset when the transfer window closed.
Speaking after his return to action, Suarez told Liverpool’s website he was determined to help the club make up for lost time.
“The result is not good because we lost but the feeling is good because we played very well, we created chances and we missed,” he said.
“I know it was a difficult moment but for myself and for the team it’s very important I’m back because I can help the team and being off the pitch I can’t.
“We’ll keep going for the week and for the next game.
“All the time I try my best on the pitch. I’m here to help the team and help Liverpool and I’ll try my best.” — Sky Sports.
Online Reporter