Liverpool player criticised after international duty, he was on ‘vacation’ says coach

 

Lazar Markovic’s international duty didn’t go very well in Portugal.

The Liverpool loanee was called up for Serbia’s World Cup Qualifier games against Moldava and Austria, and as he didn’t play for one single minute in either of them, Sporting manager Jorge Jesus wasn’t left very happy.

The boss described Markovic’s days out of the club as ‘vacations’, since the winger could have remained at Sporting’s facilities to work on his improvement.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday (via Record), Jesus said: “It was important that some players who were called to their national teams could’ve stayed to work with us during these two weeks. Markovic among them, who didn’t play a game.

“He basically didn’t train or play, because those who go to the national teams play and then recover. That’s why I say that when players go to the national teams and don’t play, it’s more of a vacation than something else, but that’s how it is.”

Lazar Markovic is still fighting for his place in Sporting’s starting team, with many chances given by the manager Jesus.

The player is expected to be given an opportunity in a central role soon, in another attempt to find his old form again.

The 22-year-old has six appearances for Sporting this season, having scored one goal. His contract with Liverpool runs until 2019.