A very touching statement from Liverpool Coach Arne Slot on Diego Jota

What can be said? What can anyone say at a time like this, when the shock and pain are so intense? I wish I had the words, but I know I don't.

All I have are feelings, which I know many people share, for a person and player we loved so much, and a family we care about so deeply.

My first thought is not as a football coach, but as a father, son, brother, and uncle, and those thoughts go to the family of Diogo and André Silva, who have experienced unimaginable loss.

My message to them is very clear: you will never walk alone. The players, staff, and fans at Liverpool Football Club are all with you, and from what I've seen today, I can tell you that the entire football family shares in this support.

This is not just a reaction to a tragedy.  Rather, it is a reflection of the kindness of the people involved, and the respect many have for these two young men as individuals, and for their family as a whole.

For us as a club, the feeling of shock is absolute. Diogo wasn't just a player on our team, he was a beloved person. He was a teammate, a friend, a business partner, and he was outstanding in all of these roles.

I could say much more about what he brought to our team, but the truth is that everyone who watched Diogo play could see it firsthand: hard work, desire, commitment, high quality, goals… the very essence of what a Liverpool player should be.

And there were also aspects that not everyone saw. He didn't seek to be liked, but he earned it anyway. He wasn't just a friend to two people, he was a friend to everyone. Someone who made others feel good just by being around them. Someone who cared deeply about his family.

The last time I spoke to him, I congratulated him on his UEFA Nations League win and wished him well with his upcoming wedding.  In many ways, it was a perfect summer for Diogo and his family, which makes what happened even more painful.

When I first arrived at the club, one of the first songs I was introduced to was the one our fans sing to Diogo. I hadn't worked with him yet, but I knew immediately that if Liverpool fans, who have watched the greats of the game for so many years, had a song that stood out to them, then he must be something special.

The loss of those qualities in such tragic circumstances is something we have yet to fully comprehend. That's why we all need to pull together at the club and be there for each other. That's our duty to Diogo, André Silva, their family, and ourselves.

My deepest condolences go to Diogo's wife, Ruth, their three beautiful children, and to the parents of Diogo and André Silva.

When the time is right, we will celebrate Diogo Jota, remember his goals, and sing his song. For now, we will remember him as a unique person and mourn his loss.  He will never be forgotten.

His name is Diogo