Andy Robertson has opened up about the devastating impact Diogo Jota\u2019s death had on Liverpool\u2019s players, admitting that football simply stopped mattering to the squad in the aftermath of the tragedy.<\/p>\n
Jota and his brother, Andr\u00e9 Silva, tragically died in a car crash in July 2025, sending shockwaves through Liverpool, Portugal and the wider football community.<\/p>\n
For those inside the Liverpool dressing room, however, the loss was far more personal.<\/p>\n
Speaking on the latest episode of Stick to Football, Robertson revealed that the squad struggled to regain the competitive edge they had shown in previous seasons.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe didn\u2019t care about football. That was the truth of it. We didn\u2019t care about football because we just lost one of our best mates in the changing room.\u201d<\/p>\n
Robertson explained that the situation was particularly difficult for Liverpool\u2019s new signings, who arrived at the club while the dressing room was still dealing with immense grief.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re coming into a club that is heartbroken, and they\u2019re trying,\u201d the former Liverpool left-back said.<\/p>\n
He admitted that the players felt like \u201cghosts\u201d for months as they attempted to cope with losing someone who was much more than a teammate.<\/p>\n
Jota was a friend, a dressing-room companion and an important part of the Liverpool family.<\/p>\n
Robertson also reflected on the competitive mentality that had helped Liverpool achieve success in previous campaigns, suggesting that the tragedy made it difficult for the squad to maintain that same determination.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll footballers have that edge, don\u2019t we, and I think when you lose that edge, sometimes you can\u2019t perform to your best,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I look back on it now, I think we lost the edge. I think we lost that determination a little bit, because I know at times we were going, \u2018What\u2019s the point?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
The emotional toll was reportedly felt throughout the squad, with Mohamed Salah previously speaking about how difficult it was to return to Liverpool\u2019s training ground following Jota\u2019s death.<\/p>\n
For the players, every match and training session was taking place against the backdrop of losing a close friend.<\/p>\n
Robertson stressed that nobody at Liverpool should use Jota\u2019s death as an excuse for disappointing results, but the circumstances provide important context for what the squad was experiencing.<\/p>\n
The arrival of several new players made the situation even more complicated, as they were expected to adapt to a new club while joining a dressing room dealing with profound grief.<\/p>\n
Despite the difficult circumstances, Liverpool managed to navigate the season and secure Champions League qualification.<\/p>\n
Robertson\u2019s comments offer a powerful reminder that, behind the results, statistics and criticism, Liverpool\u2019s players were also dealing with an unimaginable personal loss.<\/p>\n
For a group grieving the death of one of their closest friends, simply getting through the season was a significant achievement.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"