Coming back to fitness recently after suffering a hamstring injury, Diogo Jota has been discussing how he is ready to give it his all for the Reds this season.
The Portuguese international made his first start of the campaign against Ajax on Tuesday in the Champions League after coming on as a substitute in the Reds’ previous two outings against Napoli and Everton.
Jota, who signed with Wolves in 2020, believes his team ‘deserved’ to take all three points against the Dutch outfit at Anfield and saw a ‘huge improvement’ on last week’s dismal performance against Napoli.
“Our last game wasn’t good enough so it was a big improvement,” the No. 20 told Liverpoolfc.com. “Not perfect, obviously, but a very good game from our side. I think we didn’t deserve the goal we conceded, that’s football. I think we react [in] the way it was possible and, in the end, we got the result we deserved.
“That’s a huge improvement. [the] last game. I think we pressed the opponent very well and the first time they came through us they scored, no chances for Ali.
“It’s like a hit, but I think even that wasn’t easy, maybe it took a few minutes to get used to it, but I think we still created our chances with corners, with free kicks and we had a few more. In the end we got the goal”.
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The 25-year-old missed Liverpool’s pre-season schedule as a result of his injury, but now feels he has regained his speed and is ready to complete 90 minutes.
He was replaced by Darwin Nunez just after the hour mark against Ajax after recording an assist for Mo Salah’s first goal of the night.
“Yes, it is not easy! Especially for me not having a preseason”, explained Jota. “Coming back from injury [you] I always wish for a different scenario and everything is rolling and we are winning the games comfortably but it is what it is. We need to think and deal with the situation and I think I did, and the team did, so all good.
“It was the first time in my career that it happened, but we can’t change that. I think I have to do my best from now on. Obviously [the] The coach knows it too. I have been gradually playing more and more so that I can be ready to play 90 minutes soon.”
Liverpool’s trip to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea on Sunday has already been postponed as a result of police problems in the build-up to the Queen’s funeral in London on Monday.
And with the international break following this weekend’s round of matches, the Reds won’t be back in action until next month, something Jota believes made Tuesday’s win all the more important.
“This day [Ajax] It was very important for that,” he said. “It was kind of our last chance to get it right; otherwise you had to wait a long time to play again. So we did it, work done and now everyone is going in different directions, but soon we will all be together to go again.”
Brighton visit Anfield on Saturday 1 October and Jurgen Klopp is hoping a number of his currently injured players will be back fit by then.
Although it is an honor for many players to represent their respective countries, the international break provides another opportunity for players to suffer from bumps and injuries.
Hopefully all our boys return to Liverpool in top form to ensure we can be as competitive as possible ahead of the break in domestic football with the Qatar World Cup taking place in November and December.
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