Diogo Jota has revealed that he asked to be taken off during Portugal’s 1-0 loss to Spain, and his explanation could be good news for Liverpool.
Having suffered a recurrence of an existing injury during pre-season, Jota’s campaign has just started this month.
The No. 20 returned for Liverpool in a 0-0 draw with Everton, before assisting on his third start and first start of the season in a 2-1 win over Ajax.
Showing off his fitness, Jota was included in Fernando Santos’ Portugal squad for two UEFA Nations League qualifiers in preparation for the World Cup, coming off the bench to score against the Czech Republic on Saturday.
But after starting against Spain on Tuesday night, the forward surprised his coach by asking to be substituted midway through the second half.
Vitinha took his place with 79 minutes on the clock, and Santos told reporters after the match that “it was not a substitution I was planning to make”.
Explaining his decision afterwards, as quoted by O Jogo, Jota suggested that he still needs time to improve his fitness.
“I didn’t have a preseason,” he said.
“It’s only my second game as a starter this season, and I was already feeling a little tired at the end of the season.”
Santos insisted that there was no problem with Jota requesting his early exit, as the player himself is clearly cautious when it comes to re-injury.
That will no doubt be informed by the time lost already this season with Liverpool, and the increased competition for places he faces in Darwin Nunez and Roberto Firmino.
Jota turned heads leading the line against Ajax, and it can be argued that, in current form, he should be seen as the first-choice striker within Jurgen Klopp’s side.
Managing his minutes with Portugal should come in handy for Jota when it comes to a busy October at club level, with Liverpool scheduled to play nine times next month.
