Liverpool manager Arne Slot has urged his players to embrace their emotions as they cope with the tragic loss of teammate Diogo Jota. The Portuguese forward and his brother Andre Silva died in a car accident on July 3 in the Spanish province of Zamora.

In his first interview since the incident, Slot emphasized the importance of being true to oneself during this difficult time. "If we want to laugh, we laugh; if we want to cry, we're going to cry," Slot told Liverpool TV. "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."

Honoring Jota's Legacy

The Liverpool squad, along with Jota's family, paid their respects at Anfield, where floral tributes have been laid. The club has also retired Jota's number 20 shirt across all teams in his honor. A series of tributes are planned for their upcoming pre-season friendly against Preston North End, including a rendition of 'You'll Never Walk Alone' and a minute of silence.

Slot's Emotional Guidance

Slot acknowledged the difficulty of finding the right words and actions in such a situation. "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," he said. "Can we train again? Can we laugh again? Can we be angry if there's a wrong decision? And I've said to them, maybe the best thing for us to do is handle this situation like Jota was. He was always himself, so let us try to be ourselves as well."

Jota's Contributions to Liverpool

Diogo Jota made significant contributions to Liverpool, scoring 65 goals in 182 appearances and helping the team secure the FA Cup, League Cup, and Premier League title. His final match for Portugal was a victory over Spain in the Nations League final on June 8.

The Tragic Accident

The Guardia Civil reported that Jota and his brother died after their Lamborghini suffered a tyre blowout while overtaking another vehicle. They were en route to Santander, where Jota was to return to Liverpool for pre-season training.

Moving Forward

As Liverpool prepares to move forward, the focus remains on honoring Jota's memory while continuing to compete at the highest level. The team's ability to channel their emotions will be crucial in the coming season.