Andy Robertson opens up on how Jota's passing affected Liverpool

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Martin Macdonald | Writer

Content writer covering football, formula 1 and movies

Liverpool star Andy Robertson has discussed how the passing of team-mate Diogo Jota impacted the squad of the defending Premier League champions.

The Reds won the league under Arne Slot in 2024/25 but that summer, shockwaves were sent through the football world when it was announced Jota had died in a car crash in Spain alongside his brother.

There was an outpouring of grief from the Liverpool fans and players as they lost one of their own. The players had lost not only a team-mate, but a dear friend.

"I think what happened in the summer, I think nobody can prepare for what we had to go through," Robertson said on The Overlap, discussing how Jota's passing impacted Liverpool on the pitch this season.

"The first time seeing the lads after the trophy day was when we were 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. We're only human beings at the end of the day."

“Nobody can prepare for what we had to go through”

Andy Robertson on the passing of Diogo Jota and André Silva. pic.twitter.com/yrAsMfmVv8

— The Overlap (@WeAreTheOverlap) May 21, 2026

The Scotland international says that the squad's pre-season preparations were disrupted as the Liverpool management sought to let the players grieve at their own pace rather than burden them with intense physical work amid real mental anguish.

“I think for the world of football it was tough enough, but for us, it’s one of our best mates… it was tough,” Robertson continued.

“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.”

Liverpool head into the final game of the 2025/26 Premier League season in fifth and should they retain that spot it will be enough to see them qualify for the Champions League.

Robertson, however, has already confirmed this Liverpool departure for the summer and is set for an emotional goodbye on Sunday at Anfield following the game against Brentford.

He's enjoyed a trophy-laden nine-year career with the club that includes two Premier League wins and a Champions League victory.

Before finding a new club, he'll focus on the 2026 World Cup with Scotland, who find themselves in a group alongside Brazil, Morocco and Haiti.