Oscar Tabarez: 'Controversies have made Luis Suarez better'

Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez believes that Luis Suarez has become a better player because of his controversies while at Liverpool.

The Reds striker has been embroiled in several storms during his time at Anfield, including an eight-game ban for racially abusing Patrice Evra in 2011.

Suarez was also given a 10-game sanction for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic last season, but the Uruguayan boss has said that the troubles have made his player a more rounded footballer.

He told reporters: "He's come up through the Under-20s team and we introduced him to the senior Uruguay team in 2008.

"Since then he's evolved a lot, both in terms of his game and also in terms of his competitive attitude. It's perhaps because of the problems he's had in England.

"For us he's very important, but he doesn't have any special responsibilities. It's up to us to form a good team. No-one has any special responsibilities."

Suarez tops the Premier League scoring charts this term with 23 goals.