Eduardo Berizzo is suffering from prostate cancer, according to reports.
The Sevilla coach broke the news to his team at half-time of their 3-3 draw with Liverpool on Tuesday night. The Spanish side were trailing 3-0 at half-time, thanks to two goals from Roberto Firmino and a goal from Sadio Mane, but managed to complete a stunning comeback in the second half.
Wissam Ben Yedder scored twice for Sevilla before Guido Pizarro’s goal secured a point in the final minute of stoppage time. The Sevilla players ran to celebrate with Berizzo upon scoring the equaliser.
The La Liga club are expected to make an official announcement about Berizzo’s diagnosis on Wednesday.
The 48-year-old Argentine became Sevilla manager last summer, after a three-year spell with Celta Vigo which saw them reach last season’s Europa League semi-finals.
Eduardo Berizzo, Sevilla manager, has got prostate cancer. His real big game starts now. Sevilla will confirm soon in a public note
— Guillem Balague (@GuillemBalague) November 21, 2017
Sevilla midfielder Ever Banega credited his manager for the team’s improvement in the second-half against Liverpool.
“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.”
When asked about Berizzo’s health, Sevilla president Pepe Castro told Spanish radio that he would “prefer to wait until tomorrow” to make an official statement, as it is a “personal and difficult subject” to discuss.
