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Liverpool striker Diogo Jota was Portugal’s leading man in the Nations League win over Sweden and insists he didn’t feel the nerve to replace his country’s all-time top scorer, Cristiano Ronaldo.
The 23-year-old certainly didn’t show any signs of pressure, as he scored two goals and an assist in a 3-0 win over Sweden.
Jota was drafted into the national team by coach Fernando Santos for his seventh international game and seized the opportunity when Ronaldo saw him on television at home in Italy, following a positive test for the coronavirus on Monday.
“It was an excellent night and one of my best performances for my country,” Jota told goal.com, after the Nations League match at Portugal’s José Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon.
‘There was no pressure to replace Ronaldo. We are professionals and if the boss chooses 11 players to enter the field, these are the ones who have to work. ‘
Ronaldo, 35, who is said to show no symptoms of the virus, left Portugal on Wednesday to finish his period of isolation at his home in Italy.
The Juventus player’s departure allowed Jota to bring his excellent club form to the international arena, but Ronaldo’s are big to fill. He has scored 101 goals in 167 international appearances.
However, Jota kept his mind on work and in the 21st minute provided an assist for Bernardo Silva to open the scoring before scoring just before the break and again in the 72nd minute.
“I think this is my highest moment,” added Jota, who has made two appearances for Liverpool this season, scoring once against Arsenal, since his surprise £ 45 million move from Wolves.
‘I did my best on the field. Joining Liverpool was a big step in my career, and today I started again in the national team, I have to keep doing my best. ‘
Now a regular international substitute for Ronaldo, few would turn down Jota his chance. Before his move to Anfield this summer, the Portuguese scored 33 times for the Wolves in 111 appearances.
He earned his first internationalization with Portugal as a substitute for Ronaldo in the 6-0 win over Lithuania in Novemebr 2019 and scored his first goal in September this year in the 4-1 win over Croatia.
Last night’s victory left Portugal at the top of Group Three of the Nations League, tied at 10 points with France.
In the next round of matches in November, Portugal host France and Croatia plays Sweden.
Source: m.allfootballapp.com
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