Jota flowers at Anfield 040725
Liverpool FC have delayed the club's return to pre-season training as teammates pay tribute to Portuguese forward Diogo Jota following his death.
The first group of players were due to attend the club’s AXA training complex on Friday for the opening round of physical tests following the summer break.
But it is understood the squad has been told to stay away as the club deals with the aftermath of Jota's death, in a car crash in Spain as he was travelling to catch a ferry back to the UK.
He died along with his brother Andre, also a professional footballer, when their Lamborghini crashed in Zamora Province.
Mourners gathered at a wake in Portugal on Friday morning, ahead of the brothers’ funeral at the Igreja Matriz de Gondomar in Sao Cosme at 10am on Saturday.Anfield, Liverpool's ground, also continued to be a focus for fans to leave tributes and pay their respects, as former club captain Jordan Henderson and former goalkeeper Chris Kirkland both turned up to leave flowers.
Liverpool fans still coming to terms with the loss of Dioga Jota Credit: ITV News
Former Liverpool goalie Chris Kirkland paid his own tribute to Jota Credit: ITV News
Liverpool FC head coach Arne Slot said everyone associated with the club owed it to Jota to "stand together and be there for one another".
"For us as a club, the sense of shock is absolute. Diogo was not just our player. He was a loved one to all of us. He was a team-mate, a colleague, a workmate and in all of those roles he was very special.
"We need everyone at the club to stand together and to be there for one another. We owe this to Diogo, to Andre Silva, to their wider family and to ourselves.”
Jota’s team-mates have spoken of the struggle to comprehend his death, with captain Virgil van Dijk writing on Instagram he was “absolutely devastated and in total disbelief”.
"What a human being, what a player, but most importantly what an unbelievable family man,” he added.
"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.
Virgil Van Djik's Instagram tribute to Jota Credit: Instagram
Mo Salah also paid tribute to his team mate, saying it was "going to be extremely difficult to accept that Diogo won’t be there".
In a tribute on social media he wrote: "I am truly lost for words. Until yesterday, I never thought there would be something that would frighten me of going back to Liverpool after the break.
"Team mates come and go but not like this. It’s going to be extremely difficult to accept that Diogo won’t be there when we go back."
Andy Robertson, who attended Jota’s wedding to long-term partner Rute Cardoso less than a fortnight ago, posted: "I can’t believe we’re saying goodbye.
"It’s too soon, and it hurts so much. But thank you for being in my life, mate – and for making it better.”
"Heartbroken" former manager Jurgen Klopp, for whom his Christian faith has played a big part in his life, wrote on Instagram: "This is a moment where I struggle. There must be a bigger purpose. But I can’t see it."
Andy Robertson was with Jota at his wedding Credit: Instagram
Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez said the country had lost "one of its heroes".
"We feel the family’s pain and, in this tragedy, we question life in general,” he said in a video released by the Portuguese Football Federation.
"We have created a family in the national team that goes far beyond football and Diogo is an important part of that – on and off the field.
"Portugal will miss one of its heroes."
Liverpool, who are supporting Jota’s family, have opened a book of condolence, both physical in the Anfield Road Stand and online, lowered flags to half-mast and closed all stores and the museum and suspended all tours until Monday.
Fans continue to leave flowers, scarves and shirts at a makeshift shrine outside Anfield and there are similar scenes at Wolves’ Molineux Stadium, where he spent three years before his move to Liverpool.