Keith Andrews says Caoimhin Kelleher has the support from "everybody around the club" as the Brentford goalkeeper comes to terms with the death of Diogo Jota.
The 26-year-old opened up to the media for the first time during the international break about how the passing of former Liverpool team-mate and close friend Jota in July has impacted him.
"I've lost a huge friend so it's been difficult, as you'd imagine. It's not been the easiest of times for me, personally," Kelleher confessed during a press conference ahead of Ireland's 2-2 draw with Hungary.
Jota's passing came at a time when Kelleher had just bid farewell to Liverpool after 10 years at the club, as he joined Brentford on a five-year contract for a reported fee of £12.5 million.
The 'keeper helped the Reds win the FA Cup, two Carabao Cups, and a Premier League alongside Jota, whom he described as one of his 'closest friends in football' in a social media post commemorating his life.
While Liverpool overcame the 28-year-old's absence in unity, Kelleher's decision to fly the nest and become a number one at club level has put him in a difficult position.
The Bees head coach spoke about how his compatriot is receiving the full support of everyone at Brentford as he not only adjusts to personal changes but also to new environments.
"When something like that happens it goes back to the way I treat players: as people first," Andrews told the media during his pre-Chelsea press conference.
"You have to have that connection and relationship with players to understand them, to try and help them because life isn’t easy at times.
"We had a few scenarios through pre-season that tested the group on a human level and a personal level, that goes back to supporting that person and that’s something we’ve continued to do with Caoimhin.
Andrews spoke of the importance in being delicate and compassionate in such situations, saying that Kelleher is doing "pretty well" and is settling in "really well" at the west London club.
The head coach told an anecdote about his role in convincing the then Liverpool shot-stopper to join the Bees, having previously worked with him at international level with Ireland, both at senior and Under-21 levels.
"Caoihmin actually signed when I wasn’t the head coach but he was a player that I gave absolute full backing to," he said.
On the flipside from the club’s perspective, I advised him that this would be a really good environment for you to come into."
It is an environment that is aiding the Cork-native through a difficult period in his life, one that includes former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson alongside ex-Reds Fabio Carvalho and Sepp van den Berg.
"We’ve got a lot of decent people in the building that try to be compassionate and empathetic and understanding of people’s individual circumstances.
"I think Caoimhin feels that and he knows that he has that level of support from not just me but from everybody around the club," Andrews concluded.