Arne Slot makes emotional vow about Liverpool return following Diogo Jota death | OneFootball

Liverpool manager pays emotional tribute to Jota as Reds face first game back without him

Arne Slot has paid a moving tribute to Diogo Jota and said Liverpool “will always carry him with us in our hearts” following his death.

“First of all, it had a lot of impact on us but nothing compared to the loss that is felt by his parents, his wife Rute and his children and his other family,” said Slot in an emotional interview on the Liverpool FC website.

“The first feeling we all have is of sadness. The second feeling that comes to my mind is pride. I think his parents and Rute can be so proud of the player and the person he was - mainly the person.

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“Second of all, I think our fans can be so proud about the players we have at this club. They’ve seen them winning the league, that was a great achievement, but what they did in the last week with the togetherness they had, how they conducted themselves when we were in Portugal together, the fans couldn’t have asked for more from our players when it comes to how great human beings they are.

“Those are the two emotions. Of course, the first emotion of sadness is much stronger than the one of being proud. But it’s the both of them.

“I think what I take comfort in [is that] in the last month of his life he was a champion in everything.

“A champion for his family, which is the main and most important thing, because he got married. A champion for his country because he won the Nations League, [with] a country that he cared about so much, because he also wore the flag when we had celebrations. And of course a champion for us by winning the Premier League.”

Liverpool retired their No20 shirt in memory of Jota, following consultation this week with his wife Rute and other family members.

The retirement of the No20 shirt applies to the club at all levels, including men’s, women’s and academy teams.

Asked if that decision was important to everyone at the club, Slot said: “Yeah, it was. We will always carry him with us in our hearts, in our thoughts, wherever we go.

“Maybe especially in difficult moments because of what I just said. But in any moment we are here, we will carry him with us in our thoughts and in our hearts.

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“To retire his shirt is the one thing we could, should and have done.”

Liverpool return to action for the first time since the death of Jota when they play Preston in a pre-season friendly at Deepdale on Sunday.

Asked if it important for the team to get back on the pitch again now, Slot said: “Nothing seems to be important if we think of what has happened. But we are a football club and we need to train and we need to play again, if we want it or not.

“What I’ve said to the players, I can say it here as well. It’s very difficult to find the right words because we constantly debate what is appropriate.

“What is appropriate in our actions? What is appropriate [for] what we have to say? Can we train again? Can we laugh again? Can we be angry if there’s a wrong decision?

“And I’ve said to them, maybe the best thing for us to do is handle this situation like Jota was. And what I meant with that is that Jota was always himself, it didn’t matter if he was talking to me, to his team-mates, to the staff, he was always himself.

“So let us try to be ourselves as well. So, if we want to laugh we laugh; if we want to cry we’re going to cry. If they want to train they can train, if they don’t want to train they can not train. But be yourself, don’t think you have to be different than your emotions tell you.”