Bundesliga
Exclusive Díaz interview
One game, one goal, one trophy: it's fair to say that Luis Díaz has had a successful start to his Bayern Munich career after helping them win the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup last weekend.
In this exclusive interview ahead of the start of the Bundesliga season on Friday, the 28-year-old talks about his move to Bayern and what it's like to pay alongside Harry Kane.
>>> Sign Díaz to your Fantasy team here!
bundesliga.com: Luis, thanks for your time and congratulations on your first goal and title in your first game. What attracted you to Bayern and playing in the Bundesliga?
Díaz: “What attracted me was Bayern’s expectations, because it’s no secret that they're a very big club. I already knew a lot about what Bayern are about. They came for me, they believed in me. That was a really important point in choosing them and joining.
"It’s a club with a huge amount of history, a club that’s won everything at international level. It’s a very big challenge for me to be part of such a big club. I’m going to try and give my all to keep making history, keep winning titles, to win important things.
Watch: Díaz goes native in Munich
"That’s always what people remember, what stays in the memories of us footballers. I’m very happy to be part of this great club. Hopefully we'll keep going like this. We’ve started really well. We’re going to try and keep working as we are to have a great start to the season.”
>>> Build-up to Bayern's Bundesliga opener agaist RB Leipzig!
bundesliga.com: What’s been your perception of the Bundesliga so far?
Díaz: “I already knew a lot about the Bundesliga. I always try to watch lots of football. It’s a league I’ve watched. It’s a league that promises a lot. I realised in my first match that it’s really intense. It’s unbelievable from a physical perspective. You’ve always got to be at it, always in position to score, to attack well. It’s very physically demanding.
"And it also helps a lot tactically. In this team now, I’m trying to score goals in a different way than I used to. I’m going to learn a lot. That’s the little bit I’ve got to know of the Bundesliga, what I’m going to know more about in the future. Hopefully we'll get off to a good start.”
Watch: Luis Díaz lights up Supercup
bundesliga.com: Talking about the team here, you’ve got a great attacking line-up. How do you see your role and connection with Harry Kane in the centre and Michael Olise on the other wing?
Díaz: “I'm proud to be part of this club and to play alongside incredible players like Harry. I’ve known about him for a long time. Olise also played in the English Premier League. They’re all part of this team, they're great players. They’ve got incredible quality. Playing alongside Harry is great for me. He’s a player who can get on well with anyone. You just need a movement to form an understanding.
"Olise is a bit more like what I usually do as he looks to dribble. He has a lot of assists and goals. And when the game’s a bit tough, he goes for a one-v-one. You need players of their magnitude. They’re incredible players. I feel really happy to be sharing the pitch with them.”
Watch: Díaz bringing new dimension to Bayern's attack
bundesliga.com: Looking at your roots in Colombia, how and where did you start playing football?
Díaz: “I don’t know how old I was when I started playing. It must have been at around eight. I always played at my dad’s school. He had a school in the town where I was born and raised. And he always believed in me, always instilled it into me, always kept me at school, giving me lots of advice on the road to becoming a professional footballer.
"I kept progressing, went to Barranquilla FC, which is a really professional club. After that I went to Junior de Barranquilla, which is one of the clubs I’m going to remember most because they gave me the chance to be a professional, to grow, to enjoy good years there. After that, I went to Porto for two and a half years. I didn’t do badly.
"Things actually moved on quickly and I later went to Liverpool. A lot happened there, and now I’m here, thanks to God. It’s been an unbelievable career. Thinking back, it’s been spectacular because it’s never been easy given the circumstances – very difficult circumstances. But I’ve learned to endure and overcome adversity. And now we’re here. Thanks to God, we’re all well and happy.”
bundesliga.com: You were born in a small town, Barrancas. How would you describe the mentality there and how is it reflected in your personality?
Díaz: “The mentality there is very much that of a hard worker, a fighter, because lots of people don’t have opportunities to move away and pursue their dreams or make them happen.
"But I feel they’re always happy people who always have a smile on their face. They always try to endure and be happy with everything, to feel comfortable, to try and get ahead through work, to get by with what little they have. I think that’s a bit of what I carry with me from my hometown.
"I always try to be happy, always try to enjoy the moment, to work really hard, which is the most important thing for someone trying to get ahead – to work really hard, be very disciplined, trust in God. I think that’s critical.”