Jhon Duran gatecrashes Luis Diaz interview as Liverpool man praises ex-Everton star
Liverpool winger Luis Diaz and Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran have been two of the stars of the Premier League season so far. And the pair linked up to devastating effect on Tuesday night - on and off the pitch.
Only three players in the English top flight have more goals than Diaz after hitting five in the opening seven games. Super-sub Duran is one behind on four while he was also Villa's match-winner in their famous 1-0 home victory over Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
And they were both on the scoresheet again as Colombia stormed to a 4-0 win at home to Chile that ensured they remain second behind leaders Argentina in the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying table.
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After former Tottenham Hotspur defender Davinson Sanchez inadvertently opened the scoring, Diaz doubled the home team's advantage in the 52nd when he made sure a goalkeeping mistake was fully punished.
Rising star Duran then stepped off the bench to make it 3-0 before Bournemouth forward Luis Sinisterra completed the rout.
Diaz was called "a prophet in the land that saw him grow as a player" by El Colombiano after the match while there were also words of praise - eventually - from his team-mate.
The Liverpool hero was giving an interview in the mixed zone when Duran gatecrashed proceedings. "This is very bad," said Duran, referring to Diaz, who according to Infobae, "looked confused by the situation". As you would. Because Diaz is far from very bad.
But it soon became clear that the 20-year-old was joking. After being called back from the changing room by Diaz, Duran referred to his 27-year-old team-mate as an "animal," an expression commonly used in Colombia to refer to a good player. Which Diaz very much is.
And just to confirm his respect, Duran then called the former Porto forward "the best thing the Colombian national team has”. Which in a squad packed full of talent, is praise indeed.
Diaz, meanwhile, has also been handing out praise of his own, to arguably the biggest star in the Colombia squad, former Everton and Real Madrid playmaker James Rodriguez.
Rodriguez, the 2014 World Cup Golden Boot winner, who is now playing for Rayo Vallecano, continues to be in sparkling form for his country.
And Diaz said about his captain after the match: “It’s an honour to play alongside him, sharing these last few years has made me learn a lot from him. We’re always together, sharing every moment is important.
“With his talent, with his personality, he always talks on the field, he’s super important here, we understand each other with sign language. That’s how I admire him, he always does good for the national team.”