Slot’s moving message about Zota: “What to say when shock and pain are so incredibly intense”

All I have is emotions that I know that so many people will share for a man and a player we loved very much and a family we care about so much.

My first thoughts are not those of a football coach. They are those of a father, a son, a brother and a uncle and belong to the family of Diogo and Andre Silva, who experienced such an unthinkable loss.

My message to them is very clear – you will never walk alone. The players, the staff, the Liverpool fans are all with you and from what I have seen today, so can be said about the wider family of football.

This is not just a reaction to the tragedy. It is also a reaction to the kindness of the people involved and the respect that so many have for children as individuals and for the family as a whole.

For us as a club, the shock is absolute. Diogo was not just a player of ours. He was a loved one for all of us. He was a teammate, a colleague and in all these roles he was very special.

I could say so much about what he brought to our team, but the truth is that everyone who watched Diogo saw it. Hard work, desire, dedication, excellent quality, goals. The essence of what a Liverpool player should be.

There were also the elements that not everyone could see. The person who never sought popularity, but found it anyway. No friend for two people, friend for everyone. Someone who made others feel good about themselves simply because they were with them. A person who cared about his family deeply.

The last time we spoke, I congratulated Diogo on winning the Nations League and wished him good luck for his upcoming marriage. In many ways, it was a dreamy summer for Diogo and his family, which makes it even more engaging the fact that it was over.

When I first came to the club, one of the first songs I heard was what our fans sing about Diogo. I had never worked with him before, but I immediately knew that if Liverpool fans, who have seen so many great players over the years, had such a unique slogan for Diogo, then he certainly has distinct skills.

The fact that we have lost these qualities in such bad conditions is something we have not yet compromised. For this reason, we all need the team to stand united and be there for each other. We owe it to Diogo, to Andre Silva, their wider family and to us.

My condolences are addressed to Diogo’s wife, Rutte, their three beautiful children and to the parents of Diogo and Andre Silva.

When the time comes, we will ” celebrate ” Diogo Zota, remember his goals and sing his song. At the moment, we will remember him as a unique man and mourn his loss. Will never be forgotten.