Trent Alexander-Arnold paid tribute to former Liverpool team-mate Diogo Jota after helping Real Madrid reach the FIFA Club World Cup semi-finals
Trent Alexander-Arnolds spoke about Diogo Jota's death
Trent Alexander-Arnolds spoke about Diogo Jota's death
(Image: DAZN)
Trent Alexander-Arnold dedicated his performance to Diogo Jota after helping Real Madrid reach the semi-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup. Liverpool striker Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, were laid to rest on Saturday (July 5), having been killed in the early hours of Thursday morning (July 3) after being involved in a car accident in Spain.
Alexander-Arnold played alongside Jota for five years at Anfield, helping Liverpool win the Premier League, League Cup and FA Cup.
But while Portugal team-mates Ruben Neves and Joao Cancelo were able to fly immediately to the brothers' funeral in Gondomar following their own FIFA Club World Cup quarter-final on Friday (July 4), Alexander-Arnold was unable to attend due to his own club commitments in the United States on Saturday.
READ MORE: Diogo Jota's lasting gift to his home town will never be forgottenREAD MORE: Kylian Mbappe pays tribute to Liverpool forward Diogo Jota with touching gesture
The former Reds vice-captain claimed an assist as Real Madrid beat Borussia Dortmund 3-2, with team-mate Kylian Mbappe dedicating his own match-winning goal to Jota by doing a number 20 gesture with his fingers before praying following the strike. Number 20 was the forward's squad number at Liverpool.
Alexander-Arnold admitted how hard it had been to play while grieving his former team-mate and close friend. But he insisted Jota would have wanted him to play as he said the Portuguese was ‘there with me’ when honouring the 28–year-old after the final whistle.
"At the end of the day, I still had a job to do today,” Alexander-Arnold told DAZN when speaking after the game. “I had to go out there and try and perform for the team and help us win the game.
“No matter how difficult it was, no matter how difficult it is, I still have a job to do.
"As hard as it was, I have got to try and push that to the back of my mind and focus on what was my job and my role today. I tried to do it as best as I could, but it was difficult and I am not going to lie about that.
"I did it in honour of my close friend. That’s what I’m sure he would have wanted me to do.
“And we would have had a laugh and joke about the assist as well. That was in some way in memory of him. He was there with me today, I am sure.”
Alexander-Arnold also shared his support for Jota and Silva’s loved ones.
“Condolences, my love, my thoughts and prayers to the family of a close friend of mine, to the family and friends,” he said. “It’s been very, very difficult for me personally, and also the ones that knew him. Not just team-mates or friends or family, but the footballing world.
“Some things are bigger than the game. It has been difficult, it’s been very emotional, very heartwarming to see the footballing world unite and come together to show their love and support to him and his family, and obviously his brother as well.
“Although it’s been difficult, it’s also been a nice showing out from everyone, all clubs, all people uniting and showing love and support for what must be a mind-blowingly hard time for the family.
“I've been in and around him and his brother, his family, his amazing wife, his amazing parents and his amazing three children.
“It's truly, truly heartbreaking to wake up to news like that. It's something you would never, ever expect.
“He was a very close friend. Someone who lit up a room when he was in it. I shared the dressing room with him for five years - amazing memories on and off the pitch with him.
“It goes without saying he will never be forgotten by anyone. He will live long in all our memories for the amazing man and the player he was.”