Jurgen Klopp has hailed Luis Diaz after he scored a dramatic late equaliser for Liverpool in their draw with Luton Town on Sunday.
The forward’s parents were recently abducted by gunmen in Colombia, with his mother being rescued last weekend. Diaz’s father, however, is still missing and authorities are currently searching forests in the north west of the nation for him.
Despite his personal situation Diaz insisted on being a part of Liverpool matchday squad on Sunday for their trip to Luton and, after coming off the bench in the 83rd minute, the forward would make a telling contribution – rising at the back post to head home the leveller in the 95th minute.
Speaking about Diaz’s situation and his contribution at Kenilworth Road, Klopp told the press: “That we have to talk about that, it’s wonderful, it’s emotional and it’s fantastic. But the real problem is not sorted. We wanted to give – and he wanted as well – Lucho the opportunity to be a little bit distracted from the other things.
“He cannot do nothing, he is waiting all the time, the whole family is waiting all the time. And so he trained now a few times with us and he was then in a good mood, and that’s good for him. I think the signs from Colombia are rather positive, optimistic but the one thing we all want to hear, it didn’t happen yet. He didn’t train a lot and you don’t know exactly when you can bring him.
“The game was obviously a game where another offensive player would make sense. If you bring him with the quality he has and 15, 20 minutes, I don’t know exactly how long he played, and he scores the goal, so it’s wonderful. That’s it.
Diaz and Klopp embraced after the game, and when asked about the hug and what he said to Diaz, the manager replied:
“Actually after the game no words were necessary. We just gave each other a hug. We know how he is – ok but desperately waiting for the right news. That’s all.
“We had moments like this in the past. I understand 100 per cent that it’s a nice story, honestly, and it’s super-positive and great for him but these things go by. The real information we need is a different information. That’s it. But anyway, it’s a really, really positive thing for him. But all the other problems stay the same.”
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