Jose Mourinho paid a poignant tribute to Diogo Jota following his tragic death on Thursday in a car crash in northern Spain.
The passing of the Liverpool forward has rocked the world of soccer, with the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo among those to pay respects to the 28-year-old, who is set to be buried along with his brother on Saturday, in their home town of Gondomar.
The siblings died after the tyre in Jota’s Lamborghini blew out and the car skidded off the road before catching on fire. It comes less than two weeks after Jota married his long-term partner, Rute Cardoso, the mother of his three children.
Many of the messages of support from current and former Liverpool players referenced the complete disbelief that someone who recently won the Premier League and Nations League trophies, is cruelly no longer with us.
Mourinho, his fellow countryman, spoke to Sky Sports on Friday and praised Jota’s humility and character.
“When people leave this world, normally we all say, ‘he was such a nice guy’. Diogo was really a nice guy,” Mourinho said from Silverstone, which will stage the British Formula One Grand Prix on Sunday.
A memorial is set up for Diogo Jota at Gondomar Sport Club.
A memorial has been set up for Diogo Jota at Gondomar Sport Club.
“He had my agent, he had my structure, so of course I knew a lot about him. And people in Liverpool, they know what I'm saying is the truth. He's a kid that nothing was easy for him. You have to fight to arrive where you arrive.
“From this generation, he was not chasing protagonism; it was the protagonist that found him because of his talent. And the history is something really crazy.
“Three kids that stay without a dad, a young woman without her husband, the parents that lose both sons, it's crazy. It's difficult to understand. Maybe one day we will understand, but not now.”
Flowers gifted from Porto FC are seen arriving ahead of the wake of Diogo Jota being held at Sao Cosme Chapel in the town of Gondomar
Flowers gifted from Porto FC are seen arriving ahead of the wake of Diogo Jota being held at Sao Cosme Chapel in the town of Gondomar (Image: Getty Images)
Mourinho thinks the collective grieving process will strengthen Liverpool as a group, and he can personally relate from an experience in his coaching career.
“It happened with me many, many years ago when I was working with Mr. [Bobby] Robson at Porto. One of our boys, also a loved boy, died in a car crash and the team was champion.
“Instead of the boys suffering alone, it was like the group was suffering together and trying to to fight for his memory. It was a boy called Rui Felipe and we were champions, I think, for him.
“So I think in Liverpool they are going to suffer together, also the fans. I think the club is also a fantastic club. I think they already decided or are deciding to take away the shirt number 20.
“So, I always think he will always be at Anfield, will be always part of the family and maybe they lose a player, but maybe they win even more so than what they had.”