Denis Suarez challenges Ernesto Valverde to play him in derby

It's not been an easy season for Denis Suarez. He was injured on the US tour and later he has found it hard to get minutes. The player struck twice in the 4-1 win over Cultural Leonesa in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday night and it was a way of grabbing the attention and asking for more.

"I am happy with the game and with the goals and for the people who don't play as much and today could participate," said Denis. "Happy too for the people from La Masia who were able to make their debut. I was at Barca B for a year and I know what it means to come from the youth team. I think there's a lot of talent in the youth side and that you don't need to go elsewhere when there's so much talent at home."

Riqui Puig set him up brilliantly for a goal. "I have congratulated him for the game for his debut. He's a boy who goes all year training with us. I'm really happy for him because he's a friend of mine. I'd encourage him to continue like this, working and fighting, because he has quality and the level to be in the first team one day like Alena, who's here for good now. When there's so much talent and such good youth team players it's necessary to bet on them," he told Barca TV.

On GOL he sent Valverde a message. "I felt very good on the pitch. Today was an exam for me and I think that I passed this test, but let's see if I'm going to play on Saturday. The final decision is always up to the coach. I don't have the minutes that I wanted to have and I only want to play. I think I am working well and my only objective is playing more."