Jurgen Klopp has described Diogo Jota as a ‘tough cookie’ and explained that the Liverpool squad will wait for the Portugal international to return from injury ‘as a good wife waits for her husband in jail’.
The former Wolves striker picked up a calf injury at the end of our 1-0 loss to Manchester City last weekend and will miss the World Cup in Qatar in what is a devastating blow to the 25-year-old. years.
Our number 20 has already missed part of the campaign with a hamstring injury and therefore Klopp wanted to explain that he and his players will offer all possible support to Jota as he begins his rehabilitation.
“It’s an unbelievably hard cookie, to be honest it’s unbelievable,” the manager told Liverpoolfc.com.
“When I saw him yesterday on crutches and he wanted to shake my hand, I had to give him a hug. I said, ‘It’s more for me than it is for you, to be honest’ because it’s a shame, the whole thing: how it happened, what happened, when it happened, all this kind of stuff.
“But he’s unbelievably strong, he’s unbelievable. He is a role model in that. He really takes it as it is: ‘You can’t change it anymore, so let’s work from here.’
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“So, yes, we support him as much as we can, but we all know, and we were all involved in professional football, especially as a player, how lonely the rehab phases can be anyway because you spend so much time on the training ground to your rehabilitation, but the rest of the time is still long, when you are at home. But we all know that with the baby, his wife and the dogs he is in good hands there.
“So it will take time and we have to give it time, but as I said before in different situations, we will wait for it like a good wife waits for her husband in prison.”
The versatile attacker has five assists in eight appearances for Liverpool this term (in all competitions) and is a very popular figure with Reds fans.
His impressive attitude, combined with a relentless work-rate and aim, means he has become a vitally important part of Klopp’s squad in recent seasons.
It’s heartbreaking to hear that Jota will be denied the opportunity to represent his country at the World Cup, but with age on his side, he can remain optimistic about getting the chance to do so again in four years’ time.
We wish him all the best in his recovery and hopefully when he returns from injury he can help us be more successful this term.
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