Liverpool forward Diogo Jota has revealed he asked to be taken off during Portugal's UEFA Nations League defeat to Spain due to fatigue.
The 25-year-old made his first start of the season away to Everton at the start of September, having missed the first month of the campaign due to a hamstring issue that was aggravated during pre-season. Jota has since featured in Champions League games against Napoli and Ajax before reporting for international duty.
Involved in a win against Czech Republic on Saturday evening, the former Wolves star got on the scoresheet despite only featuring for 24 minutes. Selected from the off in a 1-0 defeat by Spain yesterday evening, Liverpool's No.20 was replaced with 12 minutes remaining and has since explained the reasoning behind his requested withdrawal.
"I didn't have a pre-season. 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," he told O Jogo.
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Providing further context to this change, Portugal coach Fernando Santos said : "Jota asked to leave. It doesn't matter now, but that wasn't the replacement I was going to make. I was going to put Jota in a different position so that the team could go up and have more possession. I brought in Vitinha and João Mário to have more possession of the ball and to play. We couldn't and we started to retreat. Still, we had two great chances, but we didn't score."
That there has been no issue sustained by Jota will come as a relief to Reds boss Jurgen Klopp, who has already lost a number of key players to injury this season. Liverpool were boosted by the Portugal international putting pen to paper on a new long-term contract last months, news which was well-received by Klopp.
“His qualities are obvious. He scores goals – not a bad quality – he works unbelievably hard for the team, his pressing and counter-pressing are on an unbelievable level, he can play in all of our attacking roles and he has an incredible attitude. Not a bad package. Not bad at all," the German told Liverpoolfc.com.
"As a striker who can play on the wing, he gives us so many options and since he came to Liverpool he has improved so much. I have said before that Diogo is the player we hoped he would be but also a little bit better, so long may this continue.”
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