The final farewell to one of my favourites

Diogo Jota… how many times have I written that name in articles and yet somehow, my thumbs felt heavy typing it there…

Anyone who’s read even one or two of my post match articles will know that Jota was one of my favourite players. How many times did I call him the most underrated player in the Premier League? I loved watching Jota and you need to understand the game of football properly to fully appreciate what Diogo did and that’s what I loved about him. The positions he picked up, his decision making and his efficiency in almost all parts of his game.

I’m not pulling up stats though because this isn’t about football. This is about a man who’s died by his brother’s side… A mother who’s lost both her children in one phone call… A wife who has lost the man she’s been with since she was a child and three children who will now not only grow up without their father but also without their uncle, who would no doubt have tried to somewhat fill that void for them.

This is about Robbo’s heartbreaking tribute. About Virgil saying he’ll always be there for Jota’s family. About Klopp questioning the plan of the universe and about Slot trying to find the words for an official statement, when there are no words to say.

Diogo was a keen gamer and while that’s not a world I’ve ever been interested in, you got a glimpse of the man’s humour, with some of his SM content and posts around gaming. His infectious smile made him impossible to dislike and it didn’t take his tragic passing for it to be obvious that he was hugely popular in the dressing room.

As a player his attitude, work ethic, skillset and the aforementioned efficiency he showed, pushed him to achieve what many thought was impossible – breaking up the lauded triumvirate of Mane, Salah and Firmino. Jota managed it though. Eventually his goals could just no longer be ignored and he usurped Firmino as first choice. It was no surprise that prior to injury, he started this season as Slot’s first choice as well. He was everything you’d want in a forward player… Just most people didn’t seem to notice.

To Jota the player – I noticed!! I saw your brilliance and will always remember you and remind others of what you used to do.

To Jota the man? I have no words. 28 years old, just won the PL at club level and the nations league with his country. Married his childhood sweetheart 10 days earlier, three young children and a multi millionaire, just reaching the peak of his powers. Few on this earth had more to live for and few deserved it more.

Losing Jota feels personal to me. Not like losing a family member but more than just hearing someone you used to go to school with had died or such like. It’s like losing a pet – nobody expects you to take two weeks compassionate leave from work but at the same time you’re absolutely gutted and that’s how I feel about Diogo. I can’t phone my boss and tell him my head isn’t in the game because I’m really upset because a footballer has died… but I AM!!

Diogo Jota – joined in 2020, wore the shirt number 20 and his last actions in a Liverpool strip, were winning league title number 20. This number surely now belongs to Diogo Jota at LFC. Forever our 20…

I have no other words. To the Jota family – one thing I know for sure is that the LFC family will never let them walk alone.

We walk through the storm right now. We can’t hear the sweet, silver song of the lark just yet… but we will!! For now, through the wind and the rain, all we can do is… walk on!