Luis Suarez insists he 'won't celebrate in the same way' if the Barcelona striker finds the back at the net against Liverpool at Anfield on Tuesday night.
The Uruguayan striker opened the scoring for Barcelona at the Nou Camp last week in the first-leg and raced off behind the goal before finishing with a knee-slide celebration.
He faced criticism from sections of Liverpool's supporters given many assumed he would opt not to celebrate against his former club.
When quizzed on his celebration and if he would hesitate to do it again back at Anfield, Suarez accepted he would do things differently from that first leg.
'Celebrating the goal? Everyone who football knows the importance of the goal I scored last week,' he said.
'I have all the respect in the world for Liverpool's fans. I’m very thankful to them. If I score a goal here, I won’t celebrate it in the same way.'
Reflecting on his 'fond memories' on Merseyside, Suarez said he is prepared for a potentially hostile reception after his first-leg exploits but is hopeful for 'more applause than whistles' when he takes to the pitch.
He said: 'All the work I did here and the way I'm thankful for Liverpool.
'The team had four or five years without being in the Champions League, the people here know the work I did here. I think there will be more applause than whistles for me.
'Being at Liverpool helped me in some many ways, it made me more professional, it helped me mature. Having players here with great experience allowed me to be better even more.
'Being captain of Liverpool was one of the proudest moments of my career. I won't forget it.'
Lots of the questions for the former Liverpool striker - who scored 82 goals in 133 appearances - surrounded Barcelona's motivation after a resounding 3-0 first-leg victory.
But for Suarez, it is not possible for him to fail to be 'up for games at Anfield' given the atmosphere and the occasion.
'I was never not up for games at Anfield,' he added.
'You'd play a game against a lower league team in the cup and the stadium would be full and it motivated you. If there was nothing on the game, it would still be full. The motivation is different now as I'm in a different shirt.'
denkmsuyz
87
I can see that Liverpool fans are a bunch of ungrateful ones. Suarez played for Liverpool with so much commitment. he put in all including emotions. in the course of duty, he had some bad moments. I can understand why you abandoned him on those two occasions. during the incident in the world cup, you totally betrayed him. he didn't count all these. now he has had a bad patch in the champions league and has not scored for a long time. he finally found and ballooned the net. he was so ecstatic and was consumed in the euphoria that culminated in that celebration. I don't think he owes the fans any apology. but he has humbly explained himself. yet the die-hard supporters are baying for blood. let them know that Messi will take up the challenge if Suarez is further embarrassed by the fans at the Anfield. we win fairly. at Anfield, we shall triumph by being professional and playing the Barca way. Viva Barca !! forca Barca!!
SAUGAT_143
75
he hasn't decided not to celebrate in anfield because of the criticism... it is due to respect he has to the Liverpool which we can hear in many interviews.. Suarez was criticised not for scoring in UCL...that was the celebration for his frustration after scoring...he celebrated it with the home fans that were waiting from him to score...If he was scoring on regular basis everyone know he won't score... If Liverpool fans don't understand this and boo him in anfield...no one has nothing to say...because looking at their behavior before the game they are trash...I don't say all but some of them are really are...
eloksjoseph
59
he was criticised for celebrating wildly in the camp nou, he shouldn't be....he hasn't scored in almost a year in the Champions League and he celebrated because it was in front of his fans, now he says he won't celebrate wildly at anfield, he deserves respect, he has mine already