Arne Slot sends emotional message to Liverpool players ahead of first game since Diogo Jota’s tragic death

Arne Slot has given his first interview since the tragic passing of forward Diogo Jota, as Liverpool prepare for their first friendly of pre-season against Preston North End.

The club delayed the start to pre-season training after learning of the passing of Jota, along with his brother Andre Silva, in a devastating road traffic accident in Spain.

The club have embarked on multiple tributes to the Portuguese stars, including retiring Jota’s No20 shirt at all levels at the football club, along with the squad travelling across to Portugal for their joint funeral, with Slot allowing extra time off for players to begin processing his passing.

With the friendly against Preston just around the corner, it had been claimed that the Reds internally discussed cancelling the friendly amid the tragic news. However, the club decided it was important to play the game to avoid their first match coming in Japan during their pre-season tour.

Arne Slot spoke to Liverpool’s website ahead of their first pre-season game

Ahead of the team taking to the pitch for the first time since the tragedy, boss Slot addressed the media to discuss a period where “nothing seems to be important”.

“We will always carry him with us in our hearts, in our thoughts,” the Dutchman said. “Wherever we go. Maybe especially in difficult moments because of what I just said. But in any moment we are here, we will carry him with us in our thoughts and in our hearts.

“To retire his shirt is the one thing we could, should and have done.

“Nothing seems to be important if we think of what has happened. But we are a football club and we need to train and we need to play again, if we want it or not.

“What I’ve said to the players, I can say it here as well. It’s very difficult to find the right words because we constantly debate what is appropriate.

“What is appropriate in our actions? What is appropriate [for] what we have to say? Can we train again? Can we laugh again? Can we be angry if there’s a wrong decision?”

Slot’s questions have been on the minds of Liverpool and general football fans alike: what should, or can, be said?

The Liverpool boss insisted, though, that the Portuguese’s legacy tells fans everything they need to know: he remained himself regardless of adversity and got on with the job at hand.

Slot reminded supporters that this must be the case here, but players, coaches and fans can grieve Jota in any way that they feel comfortable.

He continued: “I’ve said to them, maybe the best thing for us to do is handle this situation like Jota was. And what I meant with that is that Jota was always himself, it didn’t matter if he was talking to me, to his teammates, to the staff, he was always himself.

“So let us try to be ourselves as well. So, if we want to laugh we laugh; if we want to cry we’re going to cry. If they want to train they can train, if they don’t want to train they can not train.

“But be yourself, don’t think you have to be different than your emotions tell you.”

The club announced that, ahead of the friendly, there will be a rendition of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’, with both clubs laying a wreath before a minute’s silence.

Both clubs will wear black armbands.

After their match at Deepdale, Liverpool travel to Japan and face AC Milan, ahead of their Premier League title defence.