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Asharq Al-Awsat
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Reaction to Death of Liverpool and Portugal Player Jota
Following are quotes and reaction to the death of Liverpool and Portugal forward Diogo Jota, 28, and his brother Andre Silva in a car crash in Spain on Thursday: LIVERPOOL FOOTBALL CLUB "Liverpool Football Club are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota. "The club have been informed the 28-year-old has passed away following a road traffic accident in Spain along with his brother, Andre. "Liverpool FC will be making no further comment at this time and request the privacy of Diogo and Andre's family, friends, teammates and club staff is respected as they try to come to terms with an unimaginable loss. "We will continue to provide them with our full support." LIVERPOOL MANAGER ARNE SLOT "What can anyone say at a time like this when the shock and the pain is so incredibly raw? I wish I had the words but I know I do not. "Diogo was not just our player. He was a loved one to all of us. He was a teammate, a colleague, a work mate and in all of those roles he was very special. "When the time is right, we will celebrate Diogo Jota, we will remember his goals and we will sing his song. For the time being, we will remember him as a unique human being and mourn his loss. He will never be forgotten." FORMER LIVERPOOL MANAGER JUERGEN KLOPP "This is a moment where I struggle! There must be a bigger purpose! But I can't see it! I'm heartbroken to hear about the passing of Diogo and his brother Andre. "Diogo was a not only a fantastic player, but also a great friend, a loving and caring husband and father! We will miss you so much!" PORTUGAL PRIME MINISTER LUIS MONTENEGRO "The news of the death of Diogo Jota, an athlete who greatly honored Portugal's name, and his brother is unexpected and tragic. I extend my deepest condolences to their family. It is a sad day for football and for national and international sports." PORTUGAL AND AL-NASSR PLAYER CRISTIANO RONALDO "It doesn't make sense. We were together just recently in the national team, and you just got married. "To your family, your wife and your children, I send my condolences and wish them all the strength in the world. I know you'll always be with them. Rest in peace, Diogo and Andre. We'll all miss you." MANCHESTER UNITED AND PORTUGAL PLAYER BRUNO FERNANDES "There are no words of consolation for so much pain. I will always remember you with your smile, as a good companion on and off the field. "I send all my strength to his family, from wherever he is I am sure he will always be with you, especially to his wife and his three children." LA LAKERS PLAYER AND LIVERPOOL MINORITY OWNER LEBRON JAMES "My prayers goes out to his loved ones during this time! May you all be guided and protected! YNWA JOTA!!" FIFA PRESIDENT GIANNI INFANTINO "Aged 28, Diogo has enjoyed a fantastic career to date and had many great years ahead of him, while his brother Andre was thriving at FC Penafiel - they will both be so sorely missed by all those who knew them and by the worldwide football community." BRITISH PRIME MINISTER KEIR STARMER "There are millions of Liverpool fans, but also football fans, non-fans, who will also be shocked by this. "It is devastating, and it is really important we bear in mind just how difficult a period this will be for his friends, for his family." PORTUGUESE FOOTBALL FEDERATION PRESIDENT PEDRO PROENCA "Portuguese football is devastated. The Portuguese federation, this generation of players are mourning. Diogo was what we all want to be, was a reference for Portuguese football, was a talent of his generation..." LIVERPOOL CAPTAIN VIRGIL VAN DIJK "Man, I can't believe it, I don't wanna believe it. Absolutely devastated and in total disbelief. What a human being, what a player, but most importantly what an unbelievable family man. "My heart is breaking for all of your beautiful family. I promise you that in these difficult times and beyond we will always be there for your family. "A champion forever, number 20 forever. It's been a privilege to have stood by your side on the pitch and to have been your friend off it." REAL MADRID AND FORMER LIVERPOOL DEFENDER TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD "It's so difficult to find the right words when your head and heart are struggling to accept that someone you care about so much has gone. "When it's less painful, I want to remember Diogo with a big smile. So many laughs and happy moments. He was such a great teammate and a true friend." WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS "We are heartbroken. Diogo was adored by our fans, loved by his teammates and cherished by everyone who worked with him during his time at Wolves. The memories he created will never be forgotten." LIVERPOOL GREAT KENNY DALGLISH "Football is not important at this sad time. You feel helpless, knowing there's so little we can do to ease the pain for his wife of just two weeks, his three beautiful children. "Thinking and praying for all their loved ones after the devastating loss of both Diogo and Andre." PORTUGAL PLAYER RUBEN NEVES "They say that we only lose people when we forget them. I will never forget you." LIVERPOOL PLAYER DARWIN NUNEZ "There are no words of consolation for so much pain. I will always remember you with your smile, as a good companion on and off the field. "I send all my strength to his family, from wherever he is I am sure he will always be with you, especially to his wife and his three children." UEFA PRESIDENT ALEKSANDER CEFERIN "Just three weeks ago, I had the honor of presenting Diogo Jota with a medal after the UEFA Nations League final – a moment of joy, pride, and celebration that will now forever be burned in memory with sorrow. "His passion, energy and spirit on the field inspired everyone around him. It is devastating to think that a life so full of joy and potential has been taken far too soon. Rest in peace, dear Diogo. You will not be forgotten." PENAFIEL FC, ANDRE SILVA'S CLUB "The loss of two young lives linked to the world of football fills us with pain and consternation. "At this difficult time, Futebol Clube Penafiel extends its most sincere condolences to the family, friends and all those who shared moments of life and passion for sport with Andre and Diogo. "The club will declare official mourning and will pay tribute at its upcoming sporting events. Rest in peace."
CNA
03-07-2025
- Sport
- CNA
Jota provided the blueprint for the modern football forward
LONDON :A tireless bundle of energy with an eye for goal and priceless ability to find the net when it mattered most, Liverpool's Diogo Jota, who died in a car crash along with his brother on Thursday, was in many ways the perfect modern forward. In an era of the game that often shuns the towering target man striker in favour of false nines and inverted wide men, Jota was the blueprint for the high-pressing, high-energy goal-getter beloved by modern coaches. He ran himself ragged in pursuit of the ball, harrying defenders with boundless enthusiasm and seemed to love every moment of it, always playing the game with a broad smile that endeared him to fans for club and country. He was the perfect fit for former Liverpool coach Juergen Klopp's ultra-high-intensity pressing game and when the German stepped aside at Anfield last year, Jota symbolically grabbed the first goal of new boss Arne Slot's Premier League title-winning campaign. In his five years at Liverpool, he won every piece of domestic silverware available, adding last season's league title to a trophy cabinet that already included the League Cup and FA Cups he won in 2022. While for Portugal, he missed out on the biggest prizes the game has to offer, but still lifted two Nations League titles. Tributes poured in for Jota, with footballing greats including Cristiano Ronaldo and Steven Gerrard, joining the Prime Ministers of Portugal and Britain in mourning his loss while former manager Klopp said he was heartbroken after hearing the news. Born in the Portuguese city of Porto in December 1996, Jota joined Pacos de Ferreira's youth outfit in 2013, before making his senior debut the following year. Signed by Atletico Madrid in 2016, he was immediately loaned back to Portugal with Porto where he bagged eight goals in 27 league games before following a number of Portuguese players to Wolverhampton Wanderers in England. He spent three seasons at Wolves, scoring 33 league goals in 111 games, with 17 of those coming in the second-tier Championship. Eyebrows were certainly raised in some quarters when Liverpool agreed to pay upwards of 41 million pounds ($56 million) for a player who could hardly be described as prolific. But Liverpool's recruitment team had clearly done their homework and knew exactly what they were getting. He scored on his league debut for the club, bagged a hat-trick in the Champions League against Atalanta soon after and then became the first Liverpool player to find the net in his first four home matches in the Premier League. KEY GOALS His ability to sniff out key goals and last-gasp winners became Jota's trademark. A stoppage-time winner in a 4-3 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in 2023, that came seconds after Spurs had equalised, was typical of his impact off the bench, while the club's 2022 League Cup success owed more to Jota than any other player. A double against Arsenal in the semi-final sent them on their way to Wembley, while he had pulled them away from the brink of a shock exit against Leicester City in the previous round. Introduced off the bench with Liverpool trailing 3-1, he scored as they fought back to level in regular time before netting the winning penalty in the shootout. Speaking after Jota bagged another two goals in a Premier League win over Nottingham Forest in 2023, Klopp described exactly what Jota offered his team. "As an offensive player, to be involved in absolutely each defensive situation and still be a threat offensively. There's no if, or, you can do both. Diogo is doing that. That makes him so valuable for us," he said. Jota scored 47 league goals for Liverpool in 123 appearances, a remarkable return considering he only started 79 of those matches. For both club and country, Jota went about his business in the shadow of brighter stars, with Cristiano Ronaldo captaining his Portugal side and Mohamed Salah often claiming the spotlight for Liverpool. Yet in a sport that so often celebrates the spectacular rather than the routine, Jota showed that a tireless determination to change games and stick the ball in the back of the net are perhaps the most valuable qualities in football. ($1 = 0.7321 pounds)
Khaleej Times
30-06-2025
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
Guardiola worried that lack of rest after Club World Cup could 'destroy' Man City
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is concerned about the lack of rest his side will get ahead of the new Premier League season and said their involvement in the Club World Cup could "destroy" them. City wrapped up the previous Premier League season on May 25 and opened their Club World Cup campaign in Philadelphia just over three weeks later on June 18. They face Al Hilal in Orlando on Monday in the round of 16 and should City go on to reach the final on July 13 they will have a month to prepare for their new league campaign beginning on August 16. Guardiola said he did not know how much the Club World Cup would take out of his squad and told reporters to ask him about the impact later in the year. "I may say, so listen, we are a disaster. We are exhausted. The World Cup destroyed us," he added. "I don't know, but it's the first time in our life that that's happened. So we'll see." Guardiola said he understood comments made by former Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp, who said the expanded 32-team event, to be held once every four years during the pre-season, was football's worst idea. "Juergen, we fought together many, many times... when we went to Uefa meetings especially, or when we discussed the Premier League calendar, about how to add more quality, giving the managers and players more rest," Guardiola said. "So his comments didn't surprise me a lot ... I understand his argument, because I would defend his argument as well."
CNA
30-06-2025
- Sport
- CNA
Guardiola worried that lack of rest after Club World Cup could 'destroy' Man City
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is concerned about the lack of rest his side will get ahead of the new Premier League season and said their involvement in the Club World Cup could "destroy" them. City wrapped up the previous Premier League season on May 25 and opened their Club World Cup campaign in Philadelphia just over three weeks later on June 18. They face Al-Hilal in Orlando on Saturday in the round of 16 and should City go on to reach the final on July 13 they will have a month to prepare for their new league campaign beginning on August 16. Guardiola said he did not know how much the Club World Cup would take out of his squad and told reporters to ask him about the impact later in the year. "I may say, so listen, we are a disaster. We are exhausted. The World Cup destroyed us," he added. "I don't know, but it's the first time in our life that that's happened. So we'll see." Guardiola said he understood comments made by former Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp, who said the expanded 32-team event, to be held once every four years during the pre-season, was football's worst idea. "Juergen, we fought together many, many times... when we went to UEFA meetings especially, or when we discussed the Premier League calendar, about how to add more quality, giving the managers and players more rest," Guardiola said.
Reuters
30-06-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Guardiola worried that lack of rest after Club World Cup could 'destroy' Man City
June 30 (Reuters) - Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is concerned about the lack of rest his side will get ahead of the new Premier League season and said their involvement in the Club World Cup could "destroy" them. City wrapped up the previous Premier League season on May 25 and opened their Club World Cup campaign in Philadelphia just over three weeks later on June 18. They face Al-Hilal in Orlando on Saturday in the round of 16 and should City go on to reach the final on July 13 they will have a month to prepare for their new league campaign beginning on August 16. Guardiola said he did not know how much the Club World Cup would take out of his squad and told reporters to ask him about the impact later in the year. "I may say, so listen, we are a disaster. We are exhausted. The World Cup destroyed us," he added. "I don't know, but it's the first time in our life that that's happened. So we'll see." Guardiola said he understood comments made by former Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp, who said the expanded 32-team event, to be held once every four years during the pre-season, was football's worst idea. "Juergen, we fought together many, many times... when we went to UEFA meetings especially, or when we discussed the Premier League calendar, about how to add more quality, giving the managers and players more rest," Guardiola said. "So his comments didn't surprise me a lot ... I understand his argument, because I would defend his argument as well."
