Manager says impact of tragic loss impossible to measure but the team are fully focused on winning games of football
The tragic loss of Diogo Jota in the summer cannot be used as an excuse for Liverpool’s poor form, manager Arne Slot has said.
Slot’s comments came after defender Andy Robertson’s revealed that the day before Scotland’s 4-2 win over Denmark, he was unable to get his close friend and teammate out of his head.
Robertson said he and Jota had discussed playing at the World Cup with their national teams so much that it was deeply emotional for him. Slot admitted he understood exactly how Robertson felt and that Jota’s loss was weighing on them all.
“I saw the interview live and I know that it is an issue for us, which is completely normal,” said Slot. “At this moment in time, I always think how must it feel for his wife and his children? It is so, so, so much harder for them than it is for us. But that we will miss the player and the person is completely clear.”
Nevertheless, the head coach said the team would never put that up this season as a reason for poor performances.
“It is good for us to remember him at all times because of the person and player he was,” said Slot. “It is impossible to measure what it does to the players and to our results.
“The last thing I would do is use it as an excuse. We miss him, that is 100% sure, but we will never use it as an excuse.”
Liverpool’s form under Slot has dropped drastically from their title-winning heights last season. They have lost seven of their last ten matches in all competitions and are stuck in eighth place in the league, eight points behind league leaders Arsenal.
It has led to conclusions that winning the league is no longer achievable for the Reds this season. Slot said his side was focusing on each game rather than the league table.
“At this moment in time we are not thinking or talking about it,” said Slot. “It is just about the next game. The best way to judge a league table is after 38 games.
“The next best, in my opinion, is after 19 games. For now, the only focus we have is on winning games of football.”
The Reds have welcomed back goalkeeper Alisson Becker, who has fully recovered from a hamstring injury that kept him out for seven weeks. However, they will be without Florian Wirtz and Conor Bradley for the match against Nottingham Forest at Anfield on Saturday. Both sustained injuries on international duty. Joe Gomez is available, but may not be able to play full time.
“Maybe one or two players have to play in positions they normally don’t do,” Slot said. “We have some issues after the international break, unfortunately, but we’ll manage with the squad we have.”
