Jurgen Klopp says the preparations for Nottingham Forest clash were ‘the most difficult I’ve had in my life’ after Luis Diaz’s parents were kidnapped in Colombia before the game
Jurgen Klopp said preparing for this match was the most difficult task he has had to do in his managerial career, after Liverpool forward Luis Diaz was informed of his parents’ kidnapping while at the team hotel on Saturday evening.
Colombian forward Diaz left the squad with members of Liverpool’s staff taking care of him after he received news that his parents were taken by armed men in Barrancas, Colombia. His mother was found safe but his father was still missing on Sunday night.
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And after Liverpool saw off Nottingham Forest 3-0, Klopp said: ‘The preparation was the most difficult I ever had in my life. Didn’t expect it, was not prepared for it. I don’t want to make the game bigger than it was but it was.
Most definitely we try to help Lucho with the fight we put in because obviously we want to help. We cannot really help so the only thing we can really do is fight for him and that’s what the boys did.
‘We heard late last night. Then we spoke to Lucho. He wanted to go home. Sent people with him, had people there to take care. There is part of his family there as well. It’s why they want to be together. It’s absolutely understandable.
Then we got the news about his mum which is absolutely fantastic. Since then, nothing really.
‘They are working on it but it’s some distance away. We are obviously not the first people that get informed but we try to get knowledge of everything, but we do not want to disturb.’
Then we got the news about his mum which is absolutely fantastic. Since then, nothing really.
‘They are working on it but it’s some distance away. We are obviously not the first people that get informed but we try to get knowledge of everything, but we do not want to disturb.’
So it was clear we had to give the game an extra sense and it was fighting for Lucho. Then the boys pulled out the shirt and I was not 100 per cent prepared for that to be honest. It was really touching, but wonderful as well.’
Jota added: ‘Luis was with us in the hotel then he went home. It’s a very hard situation and I don’t know how anyone would react if it happened to you.
‘He was going to play. I played instead of him and I showed him his shirt to show we’re with him and we hope everything works out.
‘It’s unimaginable to think a situation like this could happen. We can just support him and show him we’re with him.’
