You have rarely seen football coach Jürgen Klopp so emotional after what was actually a completely “ordinary” victory in the Premier League. The 3-0 (2-0) against Nottingham Forrest on Sunday was a success “for our brother” Luis Diaz, said the Liverpool FC team manager with emotion.
The Reds striker was missing from the game after his parents were kidnapped in his native Colombia.
Diaz’s mother has now been rescued, but the search is still underway for his father. Liverpool came into the game under this impression and their thoughts were with Diaz. Diogo Jota held Diaz’s number 7 jersey in the air after his opening goal (31st). “We wanted to show that we are with him in this unimaginable situation,” said the attacker.
Liverpool coach Klopp dedicates victory to “our brother” Luis Diaz
“The best thing we could do was win the game for our brother,” Klopp said. “We had to play in the most difficult circumstances I’ve ever had. After more than 1,000 games you’d think you’d seen it all.”
However, it’s “not about us,” said Klopp, but about Diaz. “We all pray that it will turn out well. The only thing we can do is fight for our brother – and that’s what the players did. The boys fought for their brother.”
Diaz stayed at the hotel with his teammates before the game and then drove home. “He was ready to play,” said Jota, “instead I played and showed him his jersey to tell him we are with him. We hope everything will be fine.”