1 day ago
3
Bruno Fernandes has admitted it will be difficult when Manchester United faces Liverpool because of Diogo Jota's absence.
The former Liverpool striker tragically died in a car crash on July 3, alongside his brother Andre Silva, in news that rocked the sporting world. Jota, 28, was fresh off winning the Premier League and marrying his childhood sweetheart, Rute Cardoso, when tragedy struck in Zamora, Spain.
Tributes to the Anfield hero were rife in the summer and have continued into the 25/26 season. Liverpool fans have made it a tradition to sing his song in the 20th minute of the every match - the number he wore for the club who subsequently retired after his passing.
The United captain, who was a Portugal team-mate of Jota for six years, made his way to Anfield in the summer alongside club and national team colleague Diogo Dalot with the pair placing a wreath in tribute to Jota and Silva.
Ahead of the reigning Premier League champions hosting the Red Devils on Sunday for the first time since Jota's death, Fernandes spoke to Sky Sports admitting the clash will be a difficult one without the presence of Liverpool's number 20.
"No, obviously, it’s difficult and sad not to have your national teammate there," Fernandes said. "Played many times against him, not only with the Liverpool shirt but also with the Wolves shirt.
"It will be difficult because I know how much the fans love the way Diogo was, as everyone loved because he was a quiet but funny character inside the dressing room. Obviously, it will be a difficult moment, but I want to remember the good things and the good moments he had there. Obviously, he is not with us in presence, but he will be there in some way."
While Liverpool begun the season with seven straight wins across all competitions, they've succumbed to three defeats in a row for the first in over two years. The topic of Jota came up during Arne Slot's interview with Ally McCoist for TNT Sports where the Reds boss discussed the reaction to his passing from the fanbase and the impact it's had on his squad.
"The way the fans conducted themselves after that tragedy, how many flowers there were, all the memorials, I can almost get emotional thinking about it," the Dutchman said last month. "It’s unbelievable what our fans have done and our players as well, the way they have conducted themselves in and around the funeral.
"And then we have to train again. There are moments where I feel: ‘What must his wife and his children feel now?’ It sounds so hard but our life continues. People expect from me that I prepare them for ever and that sometimes feels a bit difficult knowing how hard it is for the family and for the parents in the phase they are still going through and will go through for the rest of their lives."
At the time of his death, Jota had two years remaining on his contract. It was during the interview that Slot revealed that the club's owners, Fenway Sports Group, paid out his deal in full to his family.
Slot confirmed: "Owners are mainly criticised, like managers, but the way they’ve handled this situation by paying his wife and his children all the money from the contract is … Maybe people think it’s normal, but it is not in football."
English (US) ·