ReactionDiogo Jota: I want to give my best for the team now
Having missed the majority of pre-season and the start of 2022-23 due to a hamstring injury, the Reds forward has returned in recent weeks to retake his place in Jürgen Klopp’s squad.
Jota was involved from the bench against both Everton and Napoli, and then earned his first starting berth since regaining full fitness in Tuesday night’s dramatic 2-1 victory.
Post-match, the 25-year-old discussed his recovery, the performance against Ajax and the importance of the Champions League win for Liverpool at Anfield.
Read on for the interview with Liverpoolfc.com...
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On the dressing room mood post-Ajax…
Our last game was not good enough so it was a big improvement. 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 reacted [in] the way that was possible and, in the end, we got the result that we deserved.
On the importance of putting a good performance together before the break…
That’s massive improvement from [the] last game. I think we pressed really well the opponent and the first time they went through us they scored – no chances for Ali.
It’s like a knock but I think even that, it was not easy, maybe it took a few minutes to get used to that, but I think we still create our chances with corners, with free-kicks and we had a few more. In the end we got the goal.
On the difficulty of getting back up to speed following his injury…
Yeah, not easy! Especially for me to not have a pre-season. Coming back from injury [you] 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 to deal with the situation and I think I did that, and the team did that, so all good.
On how he has coped missing pre-season and the start of the campaign…
It was the first time in my career that happened but we cannot change that. I think I need to do my best from now on. Obviously [the] coach knows that as well. I’ve been playing gradually more and more so I can be ready to play 90 minutes soon.
On how the Reds will use the time before the international break…
Today [Ajax] was really important because of that. It was kind of our last opportunity to do things right otherwise you needed to wait a long time to play again. So, we did it, job done and now everyone goes kind of different directions but we will soon be all together to go again.