How can Suarez end drought away from Camp Nou?

You could see it in his face, in his gestures. Luis Suarez showed enormous frustration after the match that Barcelona played against Lyon. A 0-0 result expanded his drought to more than 1,400 minutes without scoring in away games. He feels it, and the sentiment is getting heavier.

It’s been 16 games since the last time Suarez scored an away goal for Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League. During the group stage of the 2015-16 UCL edition, he connected a header inches in front of the goal line against Roma in the Stadio Olimpico. Since then, he hasn’t found the goal outside of the Camp Nou.

According to Dr. Maria Icar Eraña, a professor in the Faculty of Physical Activity and Sports Sciences at the Universidad Europea, when a striker can’t find the back of the net, it’s essential for the athlete to admit that there’s a decrease in his/her performance level. If the player doesn’t accept the situation, this could produce even more tension and negativity.

“If the motivation to score is excessive, it could impede that the player regulates his/her activation and the activation of the rest of the team.” Dr. Icar Eraña told Spanish publication AS. “The (psychological) intervention should always be directed into recognizing when a player is performing under or over his/her level. Knowing and controlling the triggering, and helping the players to lead the attention into his/her tasks during a match instead of leading them to the attainment of a concrete result.”

However, the crucial factor is when the stage fright takes place during game action. The term is not related to a stadium or specific geographical area. Dr. Icar Eraña defines the stage fright as “an excessive response of activation in coordination with negative thoughts regarding the consequences of an action.”

Football is full of specific moments that can change a game and in which the player needs mental strength like a penalty, free kick, counter, one vs. one. A blocked mind is condemned to fail in prompt actions.

And in the case that you, my dear reader, are having a drought like Luis Suarez, it is essential to accept the problem. Maybe you are not having the greatest of times in your rec or competitive soccer league, and you need to boost your confidence. Turn that dark moment into trust; imagine yourself scoring. You’ll have a chance to do it, but without faith, you won’t get it.

Help your team to improve. Run behind the defenders. Generate spaces, look for the ball, sacrifice your attacking privilege and make a defensive effort if it’s necessary. Remember that your negativity can block the team’s functioning.

If you play in a semi-pro or professional level, seek advice.  Go to a psychologist; talk to your coach. Look for a more structured kind of help.

When Tigres striker Andre Pierre Gignac faced almost 800 minutes without scoring a goal in the Liga MX, he hired the hypnotizer, John Milton, and the result was impressive.

Gignac scored six goals and a penalty during the Apertura 2016 playoffs. He was the offensive referent, and Tigres won the Liga MX championship. As a kind gesture to Milton, the Frenchman celebrated as if he was hypnotizing someone.

According to Milton, additional help beyond conventional psychological or medical treatment for high-performance athletes generally brings better results to certain crises.

In this case, what would you recommend Luis Suarez do so he can finally score a goal away from the Camp Nou?

Follow Luis on Twitter: @LFulloa.

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