Cody Gakpo interview: ‘We'll all miss Diogo for the rest of our lives. We will never forget him'

New York Times

21 hours ago

'Unity is strength', reads one of the well-known banners on the Kop.
For Cody Gakpo, that sense of togetherness has been a source of comfort as Liverpool's players, staff and supporters alike grieve the loss of a much-loved team-mate, colleague, friend and fan favourite.
A month has passed since Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva died in a car accident in Spain. Coming to terms with such heartbreak has provided the backdrop to Liverpool's preparations to defend their Premier League title.
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'Yeah, it's been very difficult,' Gakpo says.
'A lot of us were still on vacation when the situation happened. We came together as a team and as a club as soon as possible.
'We tried to be there as much as we could at that moment for the family and together as a team to help wherever we could. We still try to do that, and everyone is still busy a bit more behind the scenes than what is in the news, reaching out and helping as much as possible.'
Gakpo was on holiday in the south of France on the morning of July 3 when he received the news about Jota. He quickly made plans to travel to Portugal to attend the funerals in Gondomar, near Porto, two days later.
On his return to Merseyside, he paid a visit to the shrine that had been created outside Anfield, where supporters had laid thousands of tributes stretching the length of the stadium and beyond.
'The family of Diogo hopefully felt the love we have for them, and for Diogo and his brother,' Gakpo says. 'You could see how we try to act as a club and a team, the supporters as well, the whole city, every football fan; as Liverpool, we really try to be a family.'
Part of the healing process was returning to playing again.
For seven minutes after the final whistle of their opening friendly at Preston North End on July 13, Liverpool players and staff stood on the edge of the penalty area applauding the 5,600 away supporters amassed in the Bill Shankly Kop at Deepdale as Jota's song remained on loop. There were tears both in the stands and on the field.
'It was emotional, and we could have played that song for 10 more days,' adds Gakpo. 'It was beautiful and it showed once again the great character of our fanbase, and we appreciate that for sure.'
Liverpool have retired the No 20 shirt Jota wore and recently unveiled plans for a memorial sculpture at Anfield. The players got together and decided to wear a 'Forever 20' emblem on their shirts and stadium jackets for the duration of the coming season.
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't is the least we can do,' Gakpo says. 'Obviously, he was an outstanding player, but he as a person was even more wonderful. He was good with everyone. Everyone loved him, and that is also what you saw with how everyone reacted.
'So yeah, it's more that we want to remember who he was to us. Not as a player, because the player we can see on the highlights on YouTube, but more as the person he was. He will be missed this season, but he will also be missed by everyone in this team and in this club, and by his family, for the rest of our lives. We will not forget him.'
Monday evening's friendly double-header against Athletic Club at Anfield (the back-to-back games kick off at 5pm and 8pm UK time) will be another poignant occasion. It's the champions' final warm-up date before next Sunday's Community Shield against FA Cup winners Crystal Palace at Wembley.
Gakpo is determined to step up and help Arne Slot's side build on last season's triumph. The Netherlands international was Liverpool's second-highest scorer behind 34-goal Mohamed Salah with 18 in all competitions as he benefited from being used off the left flank under countryman Slot, rather than centrally.
'It was my best return for Liverpool, but I always strive to be better and do more,' says Gakpo, who was signed in a £44million ($58.4m at the current rate) deal from PSV in his homeland in January 2023.
'So yeah, hopefully this year is going to be a better one. I am just trying to get more goals and more assists. These things are always in a process. You come to the club, you settle in, and everyone does it in their own time. Some players settle really fast, and (for) some players it takes a little bit more time.
'After last season, when all the factors played in favour of our team and my slight change of position as well, we can become even better than we were last season and achieve even more.'
Gakpo has fully recovered from the ankle problem that slowed his momentum in the second half of last season. He had 16 of those 18 goals by early February before injury struck.
'I tried to come back as quickly as possible because we had some important games,' he explains. 'But unfortunately, I had a setback in training, and then it took longer to get into the rhythm again, and to get confidence when you are in duels or shooting on target with the ankle.
'That was not nice but this is also a part of football, and you have to overcome it. The last games of the season went better. I didn't feel it as much as before. Now I just have to start the season fit and move.'
Gapko will be playing in a new-look Liverpool, courtesy of a £300million summer spending spree on exciting recruits such as Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike. Gakpo, 26, believes it's a statement of the club's ambition to challenge on all fronts after earlier-than-hoped-for exits from the Champions League and FA Cup and defeat in the Carabao Cup final.
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He says, 'That is what the club wants, that is what we want as players, and that is what we will fight for.
'Everyone was delighted with winning the Premier League but we lost the final of the Carabao Cup (to Newcastle United), which was a shame, and we also lost against PSG (on penalties in the last 16 of the Champions League).
'It was a close call in both games (with Paris Saint-Germain). It could have gone either way, but went on to win the Champions League, so it was like: 'Oh, if only we had beaten them…'.
'But that is also part of football and it is why we are working so hard to go again this season, and try and win it.'
For Gakpo, cherished memories of the title celebrations inside Anfield and then during the trophy parade around the city in May, when more than a million fans lined the streets, provide added motivation to achieve more glory with Liverpool.
'It was amazing,' he adds. 'When you have those as a team, you get hungry for more. Not everyone can experience this.
'Over the last eight years, it was Manchester City (winning the league) almost every year and Liverpool in between, and us again last season, so it is not a given to win the league. So if you have the quality to do it, you must go for it and try to get more of those experiences.'