Liverpool’s manager Arne Slot spoke from the heart as the team prepared for their first pre-season match after the tragic death of their star player, Diogo Jota. It was a very emotional time for everyone involved in the club, and Slot took a moment to share how hard it’s been to move forward. But he also shared how Jota’s strong character is now inspiring the team to stay strong.
A Sad Start to the Season
On July 3rd, something terrible happened. Diogo Jota, one of Liverpool’s top soccer players, died in a car accident in Spain. His brother, André Silva, was also in the car and sadly passed away too. This was just ten days before Liverpool’s first friendly match of the pre-season, which took place against Preston on Sunday.
The team was heartbroken. Jota wasn’t just a great player—he was a great person. He was only 28 years old and had a bright future ahead. In fact, he played a big part in helping Liverpool win the Premier League title this past season.
The Premier League is one of the biggest and most competitive soccer leagues in the world. It includes 20 teams from across England and is watched by millions of fans globally. Teams like Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, and of course, Liverpool, all fight to be crowned champions. And last season, Jota played a major role in helping Liverpool come out on top.
What Arne Slot Said
Speaking in an emotional interview with Liverpool’s in-house media (which means their own reporters and video team), Arne Slot said that the past few days had been incredibly tough.
“What I’ve said to the players is that it’s very difficult to find the right words,” Slot explained. “We always talk about what’s appropriate. Is it okay to train again? Is it okay to laugh? Can we still get upset over a missed pass or a wrong decision?”
These are all questions that were running through the minds of the players and coaches. After such a big loss, how do you even go back to playing soccer?
Slot had an answer. He told his players that maybe the best way to deal with the pain was to act like Diogo Jota would have. “Jota was always himself,” Slot said. “It didn’t matter who he was talking to—his teammates, the coaching staff, even me—he was always the same person. Honest, hardworking, and kind.”
“So let’s try to be like Jota,” Slot told the team. “If we want to laugh, we’ll laugh. If we want to cry, we’ll cry. But we have to be ourselves.”
Jota’s Impact on Liverpool
Jota joined Liverpool in 2020 after playing for Wolverhampton Wanderers. He was born in Portugal, the same country as soccer legends like Cristiano Ronaldo and Luís Figo. From the beginning, Jota stood out. He scored goals, assisted teammates, and always gave 100% on the field.
In soccer, scoring goals is one of the hardest and most important parts of the game. Last season, Jota scored many important goals for Liverpool, especially in big matches. When Liverpool needed a moment of magic, Slot often looked to Jota.
“I always looked at him and said, ‘Now we need something special from you,’” Slot said. “And he delivered. Over and over again.”
In soccer, players wear numbers on their jerseys. Jota wore number 20. As a tribute, Liverpool has now decided to retire that number. That means no other player on the team will wear the number 20 jersey again. It’s a rare honor and shows just how much Jota meant to the club.
Pre-Season Begins
Pre-season is the time before the official season starts. Teams play friendly matches to prepare, try new strategies, and get into shape. But for Liverpool, this year’s pre-season began with sadness.
Before training resumed, most of the players and staff attended Jota’s funeral in Portugal. Slot said that the team delayed coming back to training because they wanted everyone to have time to grieve and say goodbye.
“We’re a football club, and we need to train and play again, whether we feel like it or not,” Slot said honestly. “But it’s not easy to see anything as important right now, not even football, after what’s happened.”
Still, the match against Preston went ahead. And while it was only a friendly game, it was full of meaning. It marked the beginning of a season where Liverpool will be playing with heavy hearts, but also with a new mission: to honor Diogo Jota by playing the way he lived—with energy, passion, and heart.
A Legacy That Lives On
Slot reminded everyone that Jota was someone you could always rely on. “In difficult moments, he always found a way to help the team,” Slot said. “So now that we’re in one of the hardest moments we’ve ever had, we should do what Diogo would do—try a little harder, keep going, and never give up.”
In soccer, teamwork and spirit are just as important as skill. And now, Jota’s spirit is a part of Liverpool forever. His teammates, his coach, and the fans around the world will carry his memory in every game they play.
Soccer Fact Time!
The Premier League has been around since 1992.
Liverpool FC was founded in 1892 and has won 20 top-flight league titles, including six European Champions League trophies.
Diogo Jota played over 100 matches for Liverpool and scored nearly 40 goals during his time at the club.
Retiring a shirt number, like Liverpool did with Jota’s #20, is a very rare and respectful gesture in professional sports.
Even though the season is beginning with sadness, Liverpool is determined to make it a meaningful one. Every goal, every win, and every hard-fought match will be a tribute to Diogo Jota.
As Arne Slot said, “We will always carry him in our hearts.”
