Andy Robertson has opened up on the devastating loss of teammate and close friend Diogo Jota, admitting “nobody can prepare” for the sudden tragedy that struck the Liverpool squad last summer.
The Scotsman is preparing to bid an emotional farewell to Anfield this weekend, bringing the curtain down on a trophy-laden nine-year spell on Merseyside.
While Robertson will be remembered as one of the finest left-backs in the world during Jurgen Klopp’s golden era, his immense personality and tight-knit bonds with his teammates cemented his status as a true fan favourite.
However, the hardest period of his Liverpool career came last July, following the tragic and sudden passing of Jota. The two had forged an inseparable bond, which has since been immortalised in a stunning mural outside Anfield.
The artwork pays homage to the affectionate nickname Robertson gave the Portuguese forward ‘Diogo MacJota’ a nod to how down-to-earth he was, with Robertson famously joking that he “was Irish.”
Following the tragedy last summer, thousands of Liverpool supporters, alongside football fans from across the globe, descended on Anfield to lay flowers and pay their respects outside the Main Stand.
Robertson on the ‘shattered’ pre-season and grieving a brother
Speaking ahead of his final match for the club, Robertson sat down with Ian Wright on The Overlap to discuss how the squad managed to cope with losing a brother just weeks after the immense euphoria of lifting the Premier League title.
“I think what happened in the summer, I think nobody can prepare for what we had to go through,” Robertson admitted. “You know, after the highs of the end of last season, you know, the first time seeing the lads after the trophy day is we’re on a plane on the way to our mate’s funeral.
“I don’t want this being used as an excuse, but for the lads it’s been tough and we can’t hide away from that.”
The heartbreak cast a heavy shadow over Liverpool’s campaign, both on and off the pitch. Just 10 days after Jota’s passing, a visibly emotional traveling Kop held up flags, scarves, and banners during a pre-season friendly against Preston North End.
When the Premier League season kicked off at Anfield against Bournemouth, the stadium united in a spine-tingling chant of Jota’s name on the 20th-minute mark a tribute that become a staple of the Anfield matchday experience.
After the final whistle, Mohamed Salah walked towards the Kop, visibly emotional as he applauded fans singing the Jota song.
Robertson confessed that managing the psychological toll and the physical demands of elite football whilst grieving was an unprecedented challenge for the squad and coaching staff.
“I think for the world of football it was tough enough, but for us, it’s one of our best mates… it was tough,” the defender added. “And obviously from that point of view we then had a disrupted pre-season, you know, certain things we had to [do] and certain things we had to be respectful towards in terms of how we were dealing with it in terms of grief.”
“We couldn’t have the manager or the sports scientists push us too hard too early because of what we were going through, and they were going through the exact same.”
As Robertson prepares to walk out at Anfield one last time, tears will undoubtedly be shed. His legacy as a relentless, world-class defender is secure, but his profound bond with Jota will remain etched in the hearts of the Merseyside public forever.
ReadLiverpoolFC Verdict
It is impossible to overstate the emotional fortitude required by this Liverpool squad over the past year. To pivot from the absolute pinnacle of footballing joy to the unimaginable grief of burying a teammate is something no athlete should ever have to prepare for.
Robertson’s raw honesty with Ian Wright highlights a human element of the game that is too often forgotten behind the multi-million-pound contracts and scorelines.
The fact that the management and sports science staff had to alter pre-season training tells you everything about the profound shockwaves Jota’s passing sent through the AXA Training Centre. It reshaped their entire year.
As Robertson says his final goodbyes this weekend, the tears in the stands won’t just be for the departure of a legendary left-back.
They will be for a man who wore his heart on his sleeve, embodied the spirit of the city, and helped carry his teammates through the darkest period in the club’s modern history.
The ‘Diogo MacJota’ mural will stand as a permanent reminder of a beautiful friendship, and both men will forever hold a sacred place in Anfield folklore.
