‘The team was gutted’: Liverpool player admits one decision this year hit everyone at the club hard

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Luis Diaz admits that one decision at Liverpool this year left everyone ‘gutted’. The Reds are still adapting.

Luis Diaz spoke openly on Sadio Mané leaving Liverpool this year in an interview with TNT Sports Brasil. He talked after the 2-0 win over Rangers – a game in which the Reds switched formation.

They haven’t looked right since the start of the season, after all. Liverpool’s usual 4-3-3 just isn’t working, prompting Jurgen Klopp to switch to a 4-4-2 against the Scots.

And it’s easy to point to Mané’s exit as an underlying reason. After all, he’s been a key member of the first-team since 2016, particularly in a centre-forward role last season. Without him, Liverpool haven’t been the same.

Diaz admits that Mané leaving was a serious blow to the team.

“The team was gutted,” said Diaz. “Obviously, he’s a player that will be missed in any club.

“He’s gone to a big club and is working to achieve his goals. And we’re conscious of the big group we have here, we’re working hard every day to improve.

“Everybody’s here to help and that shows in games.”

Luis Diaz on Sadio Mané’s decision to leave Liverpool

Mané can’t possibly be the only reason Liverpool are faltering but his exit plays a part. He was a big-game goalscorer, after all, and arguably the club’s best player over the second half of last season.

He’s also the first completely unplanned exit for some time. Philippe Coutinho was a key player when he departed but Liverpool adapted to that one by building a better team. You can easily say that Coutinho leaving allowed Klopp to build the team he wanted.

That’s not the case with Mané. The team Klopp wants undoubtedly has the Senegal star in it – instead, he’s off at Bayern Munich.

Liverpool will adapt and grow, of course, but it’s hardly a shock that the team was gutted. Mané is a big loss and one that we’ll feel for a little while.