Diogo Jota avoids his ‘very emotional’ cup draw as Liverpool find out their Champions League opponents. The Reds star has another team close to his heart.
Diogo Jota spoke to RTP ahead of the UEFA Champions League draw today. Primarily, he spoke of his love for FC Porto – a potential rival for the trophy and Jota’s birthplace.
It was put to Jota whether he’d like to face Porto in the quarter-finals. He was very clear, though, as he explained why it was a firm ‘no’.
“Honestly no, I think not,” he said. “I think it’d be a very complicated and very emotional game for me, and I’d rather play another team.”
That would change, however, if a potential final was on the cards.
“In the final, yes. I’d agree already.,” he said.
What RTK has to say
In the end, Jota avoided Porto as Liverpool will face Real Madrid. He also has to give up any dreams of facing them in the final, however, as both sides are on the same side of the draw.
If both win, they’ll play in the semi-finals.
We’ve got to say, though – we’d have taken Porto. We had them as the best-case scenario ahead of the draw.
It’s easy to see why, too. They’re comfortably the weakest side remaining, while Liverpool have a fantastic record against them.
They smashed them 5-0 away from home back in 2018, on their way to the Champions League final. The two teams met again the following season and again the Reds won.
This time it was a 6-1 aggregate victory on the road to Champions League glory.
As it is, Liverpool face Real in the quarter-finals. It’s a tough draw but there were far worse on the cards.
And we can expect an uncomplicated Jota for the game, too, which is nice. Liverpool will need everyone at their absolute best for the tie, after all, as they try and get a degree of revenge for the 2018 final.
Receive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox
