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When football loses one of its own, the grief cuts deeper than rivalries or results.

For Trent Alexander-Arnold, this week’s loss of Diogo Jota wasn’t just a tragedy for the sport.

Preparing for Real Madrid’s quarterfinal against Borussia Dortmund, Trent carried the weight of that loss onto the pitch in New Jersey.

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After the match, Alexander-Arnold opened up about the pain that overshadowed the occasion.

“I want to send my condolences and my thoughts and prayers to a close friend of mine,” he told DAZN.

“I had five years sharing a dressing room with him, and it goes without saying that he will never be forgotten by anyone.”

He explained how he felt torn between his duty to the team and the heartbreak he carried.

“At the end of the day, I still had a job to do today,” he said.

“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.”

Trent described the match as one of the most difficult moments of his career.

But he knew he had to honour Jota the best way he could, by showing up and giving everything.

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

He reflected on the impact Jota had on everyone who knew him.

“It’s been very difficult for everyone that knew him, not just me and his teammates, friends or family, but the footballing world,” he said.

“Some things are bigger than the game.”

Trent closed his tribute with words that captured what Jota meant to so many:

“He was a very close friend, somebody who lit up a room.