Although he’s well aware of the tough competition for a place in the Barca front line this year, Jeffren Suárez is ready to start the season determined to win Guardiola’s confidence and earn himself more minutes on the pitch to show his quality.
This is Jeffren’s second season in the squad, after Guardiola
brought him in from the B team at this time last year and the young Canary Island player is happy
with the chances he’s been given so far: “I didn’t expect to get so much game
time” , he explained.
Tough challenge
There’s going to be enormous competition to win a place in the forward line in
Guardiola’s team this season and the youngster admitted: “it’s going to be tough
with the signing of Villa and the quality the rest of the forwards have, but I’m excited
about the new season and I believe I have a place at this club”.
Pre-season chances
The pre-season is a good time for players who don’t always get
game time during the rest of the year to shine and show their worth and Jeffren is determined to
make the most of his opportunities: “the boss can give you more time in these games and I
want to enjoy them and take my chances, so that he can see that he can trust me to do a job in any
game he needs me”.
Youngsters
Guardiola and Jeffren also worked together at Barca B when they got promotion and
Guardiola has shown since moving up to the first team job that he has great confidence in the
club’s youngsters, something that Jeffren believes gives the young players at the club an
enormous boost: “I feel privileged. He has shown that he trusts in the players coming through
and that’s why we are all improving and reaching a high level, it gives you a really exciting
feeling”.
Pedro
Of all the young reserves that Guardiola has brought through, Pedro is
perhaps the most impressive, having moved from Third Division to World Cup winner in just two
seasons and Jeffren revealed: “he’s an example to us, with everything he’s done
and where he is now. I want to get to that level –and I will!”
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Abu Dhabi memories
From his first campaign with the first team squad, Jeffren reckons that the game against
Estudiantes de la Plata in the World Club Cup in Abu Dhabi, in which he featured and had the chance
to savour the victory, is the one that most sticks with him
Although he was born in Venezuela, Jeffren grew up in the Canaries and despite the Venezuela
coach César Farias hinting that he might be interested in the youngster, Jeffren insists he’s
not interested in playing for the land of his birth: “I took a decision a while ago with my
family – I want to play for Spain”.