Liverpool forward Diogo Jota has admitted that being injured throughout the start of this season was a new experience for him.
Jota made the claim whilst speaking to liverpoolfc.com after the Reds win over Ajax on Tuesday. Asked how he has found his time out with injury, the 25-year-old said it had been a little tricky for him.
“Yeah, not easy! Especially for me to not have a pre-season,” said Jota. “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.
“It was the first time in my career that happened [missing pre-season and the start of the season] 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.”
Jota getting back to his best
It was great to see Jota back in the starting line-up on Tuesday night. Having made two substitute appearances in the previous couple of games, Jurgen Klopp deemed him ready to start.
As the player himself points out, this can be difficult after missing all of pre-season. In many ways it’s the absolute worst time to get injured for a player.
It meant that Jota hadn’t played since early June. As a result, his match fitness could have been expected to be a little way off where it needs to be.
Thankfully, that doesn’t look to have been the case. The Portugal international was sharp against Ajax. Jota showed the kind of pressing we came to associate him with before his drop off in form at the end of last season.
In fact, it actually looks as though the little break may have done the forward some good.
For whatever reason, Jota struggled to get going in the second half of last season. His touch was all over the place and he didn’t look the threat he had in the early parts of the campaign.
Although not perfect, both of those things returned to an extent on Tuesday.
Jota has today been included in the Portugal squad for September’s friendlies. Hopefully he can use the time to build his match fitness even further.
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