6 days Ago By [email protected] (Jake Stokes)
Liverpool star Darwin Nunez reignited an old rivalry with a former Everton defender during the international break. Darwin Nunez has broken his silence following Uruguay's dramatic 3-2 win over Colombia. Manuel Ugarte fired Marcelo Bielsa's side ahead in the dying embers of stoppage time at the Centenario Stadium on Friday night to clinch three crucial points in their World Cup qualifying campaign.
As the Manchester United midfielder wheeled away in celebration - after ending his country's four-game winless streak - Nunez rubbed salt into the wounds of a former Premier League rival. The Liverpool frontman was spotted celebrating in the face of Yerry Mina. The ex- Everton defender had come on as a substitute in the final minutes, clashing with Nunez in a tense end to the match.
The Reds player had the last laugh, though, as Uruguay leapfrogged Colombia to claim second place in the South American World Cup qualifying table. "Triumphs like today's are healing in the sense that they bring all the parties that are around such a strong feeling, as in Uruguay it is the national team," said Bielsa in his post-match press conference. "It was essential to win again.
Regardless of the way it happened, which was very exciting, it was a necessary victory. We are heading in the right direction." After the game, Nunez marked the victory with a celebratory post on Instagram - which racked up over 200,000 likes in just a few hours.
The Liverpool star wrote: "Claw, football, egg and heart, this is the National Team. Thanks to those who always accompany us!" Bielsa was subject to criticism from non-other than Luis Suarez last month as Uruguay began to fall behind in the race for World Cup qualification. The Reds legend - who retired from international football in September - claimed the former Leeds United boss had 'divided the whole group' and that some players were considering quitting.
In an interview with Latin American television channel DSports , as quoted by the BBC , Suarez pleaded with fans not to not take their anger out on the players. The now-Inter Miami striker said: "During Copa América there were situations that hurt me, but I had to stay quiet for respect to the national team. "A lot of the senior players on the team held a meeting with the manager to ask him to at least say good morning, he wouldn't even say hello.
Players are going to reach a limit, they are going to explode. "There were players that, during Copa América, were saying that they would play the tournament and then they'd stop playing [for Uruguay]," Suarez went on. "I ask for people to not to take it out on players if things don't go well.
Bielsa has separated the entire group even in the way they train.".
