John Aldridge chokes up over Jota as LFCTV airs emotional special | OneFootball

LFCTV made an emotional return to broadcasting on Monday night with a special show titled “Remembering Diogo: Our Number 20”, featuring moving tributes to Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva.

Among those interviewed was Forever Reds chairman John Aldridge, who laid flowers at Anfield on behalf of Liverpool’s former players association and described the entire football family as “smashed” by the unimaginable loss.

Aldridge: “We’re just numb – you can’t get your head around it”

(Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

Speaking in front of the growing sea of tributes outside the Kop, Aldridge struggled to contain his heartbreak: “I’m still numb… you just can’t get your head around the enormity of what’s happened.”

The ex-striker, who scored 63 goals in 104 games for us during the late 1980s, said Forever Reds had been hit especially hard: “From the former players, we’re absolutely smashed…

“We just can’t believe what’s happened to one of our players.”

Jota tragedy compared to aftermath of Hillsborough disaster

Credit: Pascal Rondeau/Allsport

Aldridge reflected on the pain of watching the club come together in moments of tragedy before – comparing the current mood around Anfield to that after Hillsborough: “The pitch was a sea of red…

“It was so special under the circumstances – and that’s what supporters do.”

With thousands of fans paying respects in person and millions more mourning from afar, Aldridge offered a raw insight into how difficult the coming weeks will be for the squad.

“When the lads get together, it’s going to be a massive shock… it’ll be really tough for them to return to training this week.”

He echoed Mo Salah’s message from earlier this week, calling the idea of training without Jota “incomprehensible”, but acknowledged that the routine of football may eventually provide a path toward healing.

Still, Aldridge admitted that Jota remains front of mind constantly – with his iconic Anfield chant never far away: “You can’t get it out of your head… the song keeps coming back nearly 24 hours a day.

“That’s the respect Liverpool fans all over the world had for him.”

You can watch Aldridge’s comments on Jota (from 11:28) via Liverpool FC on YouTube: