Klopp Talk: Diogo Jota Is A Class Football Player

Don’t look now, but Liverpool have won two games in a row for the first time since late January. A big part of both wins was the Portuguese attacker, Diogo Jota, recently returned from three months out with an injury. Jota assisted the first in the Champions League clash against RB Leipzig last week, and then scored the loan goal against his former club Wolverhampton Wanderers. Liverpool FC manager Jurgen Klopp was quick to heap praise on Jota during his post match press conference.

“Diogo is just a class football player but we don’t, we cannot take it for granted that a boy who’s been out for three months – or maybe even a little bit longer – is coming back and has an immediate impact again,” said Klopp.

“That’s pretty rare, to be honest, but he has since he’s back. That is really helpful and tonight makes it even more special that he could score that goal, which was a nice goal and good play, passing situation from us. And the perfect moment to score the goal, to be honest, like a second before the half-time whistle.”

While it was great to see Jota finish of a move with some slick passing, it was just as nice to see Liverpool hold onto a 1-0 lead. It’s been a while since Liverpool managed to not give up a cheap goal while leading late.

“[T]he rest of the game was obviously a lot of defending and I’m completely fine with that because that’s exactly what we wanted to do and that’s exactly what I wanted to see – that we show 100 per cent that we understand the situation right,” declared the German manager.

“It’s not about being Liverpool on a duller night, it’s about being Liverpool and being ready for fighting with all we have for a result. That must be possible even on nights when we are not at our absolute best. I’m really happy about the performance, it’s all fine, but obviously the game, I think Robbo called it an ugly three points and I called it a dirty three points. I couldn’t be more happy about these three points.”

I think Liverpool fans across the globe are ecstatic with a “dirty” three points. With a three week break, hopefully the Reds will come back rested and ready to win some more ugly games.