Trent Alexander-Arnold says ‘difficult’ to play after Diogo Jota’s death

Real Madrid’s new signing, Trent Alexander-Arnold, admitted it is difficult to play in the Club World Cup after Diogo Jota’s death. The Portuguese forward died along with his brother, Andre Silva, after their car crashed in Spain in the wee hours of Thursday.

Arnold played with Jota for Liverpool and shared a close bond with his former teammate. The Portuguese lifted the Premier League title in May with Liverpool, after previously winning the FA Cup and two Carabao Cups in his five years at the club.

Meanwhile, Los Blancos registered a 3-2 win against Borussia Dortmund in the quarterfinal of the tournament, but TAA said it was difficult for him to play.

“I want to my send condolences and my thoughts and prayers to a close friend of mine,” Alexander-Arnold told DAZN. “I had five years sharing a dressing-room with him [Jota] and it goes without saying that he will never be forgotten by anyone. He will live long in our memories.

“But at the end of the day, I still had a job to do today. I had to go out there and perform for the team, help us win the game, no matter how difficult it was and how difficult it is.

“As hard as it was, I had to push it to the back of my mind and focus on my job and my role. I tried to do [that] as best as I could.

Arnold said Jota was there with him on the pitch during the match.

“It was difficult, I’m not going to lie about that, but I have done it in honour of my close friend.

“I’m sure he would have wanted me to do that and I’m sure we would have had a laugh and a joke about my assist as well, so yes, it was in some way in memory of him.

“He was there with me in some way, I’m sure.”

Real Madrid will take on European champions Paris Saint-Germain in the semifinal clash on Wednesday.