Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister has outlined what was said during Darwin Nunez’s recent clash with Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola.
Nunez appeared to have a little argument with Guardiola after the full-time whistle of the Reds’ 1-1 draw against City last Saturday.
In the intervening days, it has been debated just what was said between the two to cause such a provocation. And now, speaking to Argentine YouTube channel Clank! via the Liverpool ECHO, Mac Allister has lifted the lid.
“I imagine Jurgen didn’t understand anything [that was said] after the game,” began the 24-year-old. “He asked me what I was saying to him, but it was nothing. It was something very minimal. As Jurgen said, they are two very emotional people, both Pep and Darwin, and it was nothing. Some comment that Pep made, Darwin responded to it, but it wasn’t anything out of this world.
“And that’s why I was laughing too. If I see how serious it is, obviously I wouldn’t laugh in that way. But nothing made me laugh a little like how Darwin got angry so quickly. And apart from that, at the beginning, Pep thought he was doing everything like a joke, and of course Darwin was with him. It had transformed his face a little then.
“It was kind of a little funny, the whole situation, but those are things that stay there. I think they both respect each other a lot, and nothing was wrong at that moment.”
Mac Allister reveals Darwin response
As well as giving his take on the reactions of both Nunez and Guardiola, Mac Allister did actually reveal what led to the fiery exchange last week.
“I don’t know if I should tell it but I’m going to tell you,” he said. “Basically, they had a situation. I don’t know if it was a corner or a cross that Haaland headed and the ball went past the goal next to the post. Pep turned around and started saying how lucky we are or something like that.
“Then it goes to the last bit of play, the ball is crossed into the middle and Lucho Diaz wants to head it and they save it. So then Darwin tells him (Guardiola), ‘ah, now you are the ones who are lucky’. From there, everything went to s___. But it was very calm. Nothing serious.”
As was alluded to by both managers at the time, it sounds like this was something out of nothing. Nevertheless, Liverpool fans will still love Nunez’s response.
The Uruguayan could have just not reacted at all to Pep’s little jibe. Obviously, none of the other Reds players and staff took it personally, and probably just saw it as Guardiola being Guardiola.
But Nunez is not any other player, and his emotional response will make Liverpool fans only love him even harder. The 24-year-old sometimes lets his emotions get the better of him, and that’s OK.
Obviously, as Mac Allister points out, there was never anything serious in the exchange. That’s why he – and others – thought it was funny. It’s simply another case of Darwin endearing himself to a set of fans who have installed him as a new cult hero.
He’ll defend Liverpool to the hilt, whether he’s on the pitch or not. You simply can’t help but root for a player like that. Nunez! Nunez! Nunez!
Receive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox
