Liverpool will all the time carry Diogo Jota of their hearts, supervisor Arne Slot mentioned as his facet put together to play their first recreation because the ahead’s tragic demise.
Jota, 28, and brother Andre Silva, 25, had been killed in a automobile accident in north-west Spain on July 3.
Tributes have since flooded in from throughout the soccer world, whereas Liverpool introduced they may retire the quantity 20 worn by Jota in honour of the Portugal star.
The Reds will keep in mind Jota earlier than dealing with Preston North End in a pre-season pleasant at Deepdale on Sunday.
Liverpool’s return to the pitch might understandably show a troublesome expertise for his or her gamers, however Slot believes that holding the reminiscence of Jota alive of their hearts will probably be useful within the hardest moments.
“We will all the time carry him with us in our hearts, in our ideas, wherever we go. Maybe particularly in troublesome moments,” Slot advised LFC TV forward of the sport with Preston.
“But in any second we’re right here, we’ll carry him with us in our ideas and in our hearts. To retire his shirt is the one factor we may, ought to and have executed.
“I believe what I take consolation in (is that) within the final month of his life he was a champion in every little thing. A champion for his household, which is the principle and most essential factor, as a result of he acquired married.
“We’ll all the time carry him with us” ❤️
Arne Slot with a heartfelt tribute to Diogo Jota.
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 13, 2025
“A champion for his nation as a result of he received the Nations League, (with) a rustic that he cared about a lot, as a result of he additionally wore the flag after we had celebrations. And after all a champion for us by successful the Premier League.
“The first feeling all of us have is of disappointment. The second feeling that involves my thoughts is delight. I believe his dad and mom and (Jota’s spouse) Rute may be so happy with the participant and the particular person he was – primarily the particular person.
“I’ve spoken to a lot of his team-mates, I’ve spoken to many workers members, and so they all fee him so excessive and all say how good of an individual he was. That he was all the time himself. So they need to and will probably be very proud if they may hear what all his team-mates and all of the workers members would say about him.
“Second of all, I believe our followers may be so proud concerning the gamers we’ve at this membership. They’ve seen them successful the league, that was an awesome achievement, however what they did within the final week with the togetherness that they had, how they carried out themselves after we had been in Portugal (for Jota’s funeral) collectively, the followers couldn’t have requested for extra from our gamers with regards to how nice human beings they’re.
“Those are the 2 feelings. Of course, the primary emotion of disappointment is far stronger than the one in every of being proud. But it’s the each of them.”
On the prospect of taking part in soccer once more following Jota’s demise, Slot added: “Nothing appears to be essential if we consider what has occurred. But we’re a soccer membership and we have to practice and we have to play once more, if we would like it or not.
“What I’ve mentioned to the gamers, I can say it right here as effectively. It’s very troublesome to search out the appropriate phrases as a result of we always debate what is suitable. What is suitable in our actions? What is suitable (for) what we’ve to say? Can we practice once more? Can we snort once more? Can we be indignant if there’s a unsuitable resolution?
Forever our quantity 20… ❤️ pic.twitter.com/SKrbd8CMgE
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) July 11, 2025
“And I’ve mentioned to them, possibly the most effective factor for us to do is deal with this case like Jota was. And what I meant with that’s that Jota was all the time himself, it didn’t matter if he was speaking to me, to his team-mates, to the workers, he was all the time himself.
“So allow us to attempt to be ourselves as effectively. So, if we wish to snort we snort; if we wish to cry we’re going to cry. If they wish to practice they will practice, in the event that they don’t wish to practice they cannot practice. But be your self, don’t assume it’s a must to be completely different than your feelings let you know.
“Second of all, Jots was the participant that if issues had been actually, actually, actually troublesome, I all the time checked out him and mentioned ‘Now we’d like one thing particular from you’. And he delivered so many instances in these moments. I can provide you with all of those moments, even earlier than I used to be right here he had many of those moments as effectively.
“So we’re in a really troublesome time, so let’s attempt to do what Diogo did so many instances. If it’s so troublesome then strive a bit of bit tougher or simply carry on going and attempt to make it work.
“The last item is that he was the participant in our crew I might say that primarily with him it was all concerning the crew. And not solely the gamers; additionally, like I mentioned, the workers. If we wish to undergo this era we have to do that collectively.”
