Luis Suarez has revealed how Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez burst into tears during a half-time dressing down from Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa in Argentina last year before going on to help his country secure a famous victory.
Nunez was in the starting line-up for the World Cup qualifier at La Bombonera in Buenos Aires last November.
an indifferent first-half showing led to strong criticism from Bielsa during the interval that prompted an emotional reaction from the Reds forward
Nunez was consoled by former Liverpool striker Suarez.
Nunez responded by scoring late on to secure a 2-0 triumph for Uruguay after which he ran straight into the arms of Suarez to celebrate
Suarez has lifted the lid on what happened during the interval as part of him questioning Bielsa's handling of certain players in the Uruguay squad.
Suarez
“I saw Darwin crying and I told him 'You are here on merit, because of how hard you work, you are a goalscorer and you are the best.
“You have to continue like this, forget what others say. Wipe your face, go out and do it',"
"That is why when he scored the goal I was the first one he greeted. For me Darwin needs affection, to be supported and to feel involved, not other things.
"I ran into the coach in the hallway and he told me 'We are not helping him with those things'. I was taken aback, and I told him that I had to support him.
"After the victory, Bielsa greeted me and said 'Do you know what happens if I don't talk to him like that... You saw what he ran in the second half'. And I told him my part was to encourage him."
Real Madrid midfielder and Uruguay international Federico Valverde has subsequently agreed with Suarez over Bielsa's handling of the squad.
"It's true that some things happened,"
“Some problems have arisen and they need to be resolved behind closed doors. The priority is to be in a harmonious environment for the good of the team."
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