Former Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp always possesses a strange ability to express the emotions of club fans. He has done so with incredible consistency throughout his nine years as a coach at Anfield.
And Klopp's words have never been as profound as on Thursday, after striker Diogo Jota and his younger brother Andre Silva were killed in a car accident in Spain.
"This is the moment I have to fight for," Klopp wrote on social media. "There must be a bigger purpose, but I can't see it."
This is a sentiment shared by those who are close to Liverpool and the world. This is a tragedy that is also reminiscent of another in-depth assessment by Klopp, given during the COVID pandemic in 2020: "Football always seems to be the most important of the least important things".
After Jota's passing, in addition to hundreds of sincere thanks from Liverpool fans outside Anfield, there are also respect from Manchester United and Everton fans.
Liverpool's opponents also taking the time to remember Jota reflected the ability of the king of sports to bring people closer together. For everyone involved with Liverpool and Jota's former club, Wolves, that mark is even stronger.
The Portuguese representative of both clubs has been outstanding, making his name in history and in the hearts of two groups of passionate fans.
At Wolves, Jota has become a sought-after hero since joining Atletico Madrid in 2017. He scored 44 goals in 131 games at Molineux and was a key part of the Wolves' 2017-18 promotion.
In Wolves' first season back in the Premier League, Jota scored a hat-trick in a 4-3 win over Leicester City, becoming only the second Portuguese player since Cristiano Ronaldo to do so in the competition. In March 2019, he also scored a memorable goal against Man United to help Wolves reach the FA Cup semi-finals for the first time in nearly two decades.
Despite his impressive record at Molineux, Jota was still considered a rough diamond when he joined Liverpool in September 2020. Therefore, his £45 million transfer fee was initially mocked.
But Jota has soon proven his doubters are wrong, scoring seven goals in his first 10 appearances for the club, equal to the record set by legendary striker Robbie Fowler. Under Klopp, the 28-year-old striker has become an indispensable part of one of the most formidable attack lines in Europe. Despite a series of injuries limiting his playing time at Anfield, Jota has built his legacy as a key player in the club's golden age.
In 5 seasons at Liverpool, Jota scored 65 goals in 182 appearances and won 4 major titles. Including 2 League Cups, 1 FA Cup and most notably the Premier League title last season.
Jota has always known how to shine in important moments, scoring a double against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup semi-finals in 2022. He also scored the first goal of the Arne Slot era in the 2-0 win over Ipswich Town in August.
Jota also has a successful international career with Portugal and was part of the squad that won the UEFA Nations League last month.
He has scored 14 goals in 29 appearances for his country and despite his lack of real star quality, Jota is still a highly rated and beloved member of the team.
Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo was one of the first to express his condolences. While the sports world regrets Jota as a player, those who know him best are saddened by Jota as a husband, child and father.
Born and raised in Portugal, Jota's rise from a young player at the local side of Gondomar to the top of the Premier League has inspired many young people in his home country.
In 2022, he returned to his childhood club to open a football academy named after him - an act of gratitude to the place where his journey began.
Less than two weeks ago, the 28-year-old married his childhood lover Rute Cardoso at a ceremony in Porto. In an Instagram post marking the event last week, the couple shared photos of their young family with the caption: "Para always".
During his time at Liverpool, Jota's name was honored to resound in Creedence Clearwater Revival's song "Bad Moon Rising". This song is often played at Anfield and at away matches across Europe as Liverpool fans express their respect for a player they love.
In the song, Jota is described with a simple sentence - "a guy from Portugal". This is a reminder about the ordinary man behind extraordinary talent.
What Jota has contributed to millions of fans around the world will be remembered forever.
