London: Liverpool striker Luis Suarez insists he has finally learnt how to keep his explosive temper and cynical instincts under control.
Suarez has played a key role in Liverpool`s emergence as surprise contenders for the Premier League title this season after surviving one of the darkest periods of his controversial career.
The Uruguay international has played only 15 league matches this term as he had to serve the remaining half of a 10-match ban for biting Chelsea`s Branislav Ivanovic in April.
The season before that the 26-year-old was banned for eight matches after being found guilty of racially abusing Manchester United`s Patrice Evra.
He has also been accused of diving at times and earned widespread criticism for cynically conceding a penalty with a handball during the 2010 World Cup quarter-final against Ghana.
Suarez was sent off for the offence, but Ghana missed the penalty and Uruguay went on to win the tie.
But he has worked hard to keep his volatile emotions in check of late, telling ESPN: "My temperament, attitude, desire and hunger when I am on the pitch has always been like this and will continue to be this way, but I now know I have to control it more.
"An example of this was about two weeks ago when I had an open shot at goal and hit the post and it rebounded close to my hand and I was about to go for it and then I stopped.
"If the same thing had happened two months ago I would have gone for it. These things stay with me but I tell you I am changing.
"I am improving my attitude on the pitch because I know I was wrong in the past and I was creating an image of myself I know wasn`t me."
Securing a place in next season`s Champions League is widely seen as vital to ensuring Suarez doesn`t once again agitate for a move away from Anfield in the close-season.
He tried unsuccessfully to engineer a move to Arsenal before the start of the current campaign, angering Reds boss Brendan Rodgers in the process, but he has put that row behind him by scoring 20 Premier League goals already this term.
Liverpool are currently fourth in the table, the last of the Champions League qualifying spots, and Suarez is determined to ensure his side remain there until the end of the season.
"On the pitch I try to help Liverpool and I try to help the squad, and I think for confidence it is very good," Suarez said after winning the Barclays award for the Premier League player of the month on Friday.
"If Liverpool continue at this level we can finish in the top four, which we want."
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.