Former Liverpool[1] boss Jurgen Klopp[2] has opened up on the tragic loss of Diogo Jota[3] — and said it felt like losing a family member.
Reds striker Jota was killed in a road accident alongside his brother Andre Silva in early July and Klopp said he sat in silence for a long time after finding out the devastating news about the man he signed from Wolves[4].
Speaking to the Diary of a CEO podcast, the now head of football operations at Red Bull said: ‘I cannot imagine the dressing room right now without him being there. That’s for the boys as well.
‘Nobody at Liverpool will ever use it as an excuse…. He was so close with James Milner, very close with Kostas Tsimiskas, that’s Moon and Mars. Dealing with it on a personal level… impossible.
Jurgen Klopp has described the tragic passing of Diogo Jota as like losing a ‘family member’
The German brought Jota to Anfield from Wolves in September 2020
Klopp opened up on Jota’s passing on Steven Bartlett’s Diary of a CEO podcast
‘I got a message in the morning that it was bad news, from a friend from Liverpool and I couldn’t believe it. It was not possible. I heard it, know what it means.
‘I saw all the pictures from the wedding and the boys were there… I know exactly where I was and how long I sat there without speaking a word.
‘It’s exactly like a family member. It’s an example of the things you have to deal with without knowing at all. You cannot be prepared… you have to sort things you hadn’t expected.
‘I was impressed with his presence, a very special young man.’
More to follow.
References
- ^ Liverpool (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Jurgen Klopp (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Diogo Jota (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Wolves (www.dailymail.co.uk)