Man of the Match Luis Diaz reveals the source behind his excellent form after Liverpool beat Villarreal
Speaking on UEFA’s YouTube channel (h/t Daily Mail) after Liverpool beat Villarreal in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-final, Luis Diaz revealed that he sees every game of football as a chance to exact revenge for his childhood suffering.
The Colombian winger has been a revelation at Anfield ever since his move from FC Porto this January. Commanding £37.5million in initial transfer fees, he is now starting to look like an astute investment from Jurgen Klopp’s side.
The Reds took a 2-0 lead to the Ceramica last night but fell prey to two first-half goals. Shocked and stunned, the Reds had to do something in the second half. Enter Luis Diaz.
The Colombian winger was attacking the La Liga side’s right flank from the moment he stepped onto the pitch. After Fabinho’s opener for the Reds on the night, it was Diaz’s header that sealed the tie for the 2019 UEFA Champions League winners.
Sadio Mane’s goal meant a first-ever Liverpool away win in the UCL semi-finals under Jurgen Klopp. After the game, it was the ex-Porto man who was awarded the Man of the Match award by UEFA despite only playing 45 minutes.
Diaz is the man
Speaking after the game, Diaz explained what motivates him to play with this intensity week in, week out. He started off by explaining where his self-belief comes from:
“From La Guajira. It comes from my roots. I always played football in my town, in my homeland. They are my characteristics, they have instilled in me several things that I have today and now I have grown much more.”
Diaz has apparently made more appearances for club and country this season than any other footballer in the world, with 64. He seems to fit this Liverpool attack like a glove and has even pushed Sadio Mane to play centre-forward on occasions as the Colombian continues to wreak havoc down the left flank.
“That’s my game. Each game is a revenge for always going out to look for more, I know what it costs and I have to take advantage of every moment, every minute I have.”
His hometown is one of the most neglected areas in his country and Diaz apparently battled malnourishment as a child. It starts to become clear that this childhood anguish has made him the player he is today.
Those who come from nothing understand the importance of every little thing they go on to receive and achieve in life. Diaz’s reaction at full-time said it all. All the sacrifices made in his past have now led him to the biggest moment in his footballing career- the UCL final.
Sadio Mane, Diaz’s superstar colleague at LFC, comes from a humble background in Senegal as well while Mohamed Salah used to take 9-hour journeys to be able to play football in his younger days. These three are now arguably the most feared trio in England.
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The way Diaz played, he looked like a man hell-bent on making the trip to Paris on 28th May. And with the way he is playing, it would come as a surprise if he is dropped in the FA Cup final against Chelsea and the UCL final against one of Manchester City or Real Madrid.
