Liverpool star Robertson reveals interesting insight into how Diogo Jota’s tragic death continues to affect those closest to him
Andy Robertson has made a surprising confession after helping Scotland qualify for the World Cup. Despite preparing for one of the biggest games of his life, Robertson couldn’t stop thinking about his former Liverpool teammate Diogo Jota.
Robertson said: “I’ve hid it well but I was hurting little by little. I know my age and this could be my last chance to play in the World Cup. I couldn’t get my mate Diogo Jota out of my mind. We talked a lot about the World Cup. He was out last time with injury and I was out because Scotland missed out and we always talked about what it would be like to go to the World Cup.”
“I just got into a little trouble in my room. I think I hid it well from the boys. I’m sure he’ll smile at me somewhere. I couldn’t get him out of my head all day.”
read more: Diogo Jota was a Liverpool legend, a football maverick who made his opponents look foolish.read more: Liverpool called up for first match after Diogo Jota’s death, to be broadcast on TV
Robertson may not be the only one still grieving the death of his best friend. Some of his Liverpool colleagues have distanced themselves this season, lacked concentration and struggled with motivation. Mo Salah in particular seems to have some traces of his past.
Jota’s tragic death in a car accident in July has been a constant reminder at Anfield, with the club determined to honor and remember one of its favorite sons.
His seat in the Anfield dressing room remains empty, his name still emblazoned above it. The same goes for the ones used at the practice range. His name will also continue to appear on the team list at the back of the match program.
The message is clear. Iota will never be forgotten. And neither should he. Because if you talk to anyone in the football world who knows him, they’ll tell you that the Portuguese was just as great a man as he was as a player.
But for those who remember Jota, like Robertson, it may be difficult to find the motivation to move on or accept a future without him.
who knows? People deal with grief in different ways. But Robertson deserves great credit for still being open and honest about his feelings.
Hearing top-level soccer players speak from the heart is refreshing. Robertson was close to Jota. The Scots were more devastated than others and attended the funeral in the town of Gondomar, near Porto.
Of course, life moves on, but the speed varies from person to person.
And as Liverpool struggle to repeat last season’s title-winning form, one explanation as their performance continues to come under scrutiny may come down to the fact that some footballers are processing the fact that the one man who helped them will never help them again.
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