Sevilla manager's half-time cancer revelation inspired remarkable comeback against Liverpool

Sevilla manager Eduardo Berizzo told his players he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer to spark their remarkable comeback in the Champions League against Liverpool.

Jurgen Klopp’s Reds looked to have the game wrapped up after racing to a 3-0 lead at the interval before Berizzo’s half time revelation prompted the Spanish side’s dramatic revival.

Guido Pizarro’ struck on the stroke of full-time to complete the turnaround and he immediately darted over to his manager to embrace him and celebrate Sevilla’s unlikely recovery.

Reports began to emerge of Berizzo’s illness in the wake of the stalemate, with Yahoo Sport contributor Guillem Balague revealing the news via social media.

Balague tweeted: “Eduardo Berizzo, Sevilla manager, has got prostate cancer. His real big game starts now. Sevilla will confirm soon in a public note”

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Sevilla released a statement on Wednesday morning to confirm the sad news about their coach and wished him well on the road to recovery.

It read: “The medical services of Sevilla FC report that the coach of the first team, Eduardo Berizzo , has been diagnosed with an adenocarcinoma of the prostate.

“The future examinations will allow to decide which are the steps to follow regarding their treatment. The Sevilla FC wants to show their full support for his coach right now and wishes him a speedy recovery.”

Berizzo, 48, took over at Sevilla in the summer having led Celta Vigo to the semi-finals of the Europa League last season.

Midfielder Ever Banega was full of praise for the role his boss played in claiming a point when it seemed there was no way back at the break.

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Banega said: “It was a crazy game. We went into the changing rooms knowing that if we tried then we could pull it off. That’s how we have to play every game.

“We have to go out there with that attitude, for the fans that always back us and for the coach who has turned this around.

“He is the most important of all of us, he has on the right path and we are with him to the hilt.”