Liverpool players should ‘open up’ about Diogo Jota’s death, urges former Premier League star

Former Arsenal and Manchester City star Bacary Sagna has urged Liverpool players to properly process the death of Diogo Jota by speaking to someone about their grief.

Former Arsenal and Manchester City star Bacary Sagna has urged Liverpool players to properly process the death of Diogo Jota by speaking to someone about their grief. Sagna, who spent a decade playing in the English Premier League, told CNN Sports that Liverpool players may struggle to focus on the upcoming season with their teammate missing from the squad. Reds striker Jota died in a car crash on July 3 at the age of 28. His brother, André Silva – who was also a professional soccer player – also died in the car accident aged 25. Many of those in the current Liverpool team, including captain Virgil van Dijk and left back Andy Robertson, traveled to Portugal to attend Jota’s funeral earlier this month, before the squad returned for preseason training. “They will constantly think about it,” Sagna said. “Because in the dressing room, one space will be free. At lunch time, one space will be free. In the bus, one space will be free, so I clearly advise them to speak up.” He added: “We are human beings first. We spend more time with the players than we spend with the whole family, so it’s just crazy. It’s hard to explain why and how it happened, but unfortunately, you have to move on, and you have to try to cope with it, but it’s going to be difficult.”