Jota - Welcome Home!

The Hoops are back in action this weekend, with a trip to Perth on Sunday to face St Johnstone (KO: 12noon) as the champions close in on yet another league title.

It’s been a brilliant season domestically so far for Brendan Rodgers’ men, with the League Cup already secured, a 13-point lead at the top of the Premiership table and a place in the semi-final of the Scottish Cup.

But despite the potential glories of the next two months, Celtic’s No.7 says that the Bhoys are just taking each game as it comes.

Speaking to the media ahead of this weekend’s match, Jota also highlighted the positives of having players in the first-team who have already gone the distance and helped achieve success for the Celts.

Jota said: “The mindset is game by game. Everyone knows exactly what to do. We just stick with our principles and I think everything will go through.

“Having lads who have been in this position for several years is really good, and then it’s about passing that culture to the young lads coming through.

‘In the end, it’s just a matter of putting everything together and fighting to the same goal.’

“The structure of the team is made for each player to have success in each position.

“It’s up to us to be competitive in the games and reach our goals.


Jota’s return to the club in January has proved to be a success for both parties so far, with the Celts benefitting from his attacking style of play and the player clearly feeling at home in the Hoops.

Since making his return, the winger has netted four goals and has shown the qualities that made him a fans' favourite during his first spell with the club.

But the Portuguese says that he is determined to continue to improve and develop, and emphasised that playing matches is the key to progression.

“It has been a good couple of games,” he said. “I’m still trying to be in my best shape, and I know that will come, definitely. But I’m happy with how things are going.

“I just go day by day, work hard and try to be the best version of myself.

“There’s nothing better than playing games. You develop a lot once you’re in the zone in the games.

“No amount of training can give you what the game can give to you. You can train hard and that’s important, but the game is always the ultimate thing.

“For me, it’s what I get most passionate about and that’s where I want to perform.”

 

Seems more assured and confident with the media now.

 

Celtic star Jota has once again underlined his preference to play on the left wing but insists he is happy to adapt for the benefit of the team.


The Portuguese winger, who returned to the runaway Scottish Premiership leaders for a second spell during the winter transfer window, also praised Daizen Maeda’s versatility, with the Japanese forward excelling as a lone striker in recent months after initially being deployed as a winger upon his arrival in 2022.

Jota addressed his positioning during a press conference ahead of Celtic’s trip to face St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park on Sunday, reaffirming his long-standing stance while acknowledging the need for tactical flexibility.

“Personally, I've always said that I prefer to play on the left,” Jota admitted. “But in the end, I think it's up to the gaffer to decide what is the best for the team. And if he wants me to perform in another part of the pitch, then I need to be able to do that in order for the team to be successful.

"Obviously, personally, I prefer on the left, but games are always different and they call for different things, so you never know.

Jota’s ability to operate across the frontline has been an asset for Celtic, but his words suggest his most natural and favoured role remains cutting in from the left side, where he can unleash his trademark dribbling and creativity



The 26-year-old also took time to highlight the impact of teammate Maeda, who has flourished in a more central role in recent months.

The Japanese international, primarily used on the left-flank since joining Celtic under Ange Postecoglou, has excelled when operating as a central striker and was recently named Premiership Player of the Month for the second consecutive month.

“I mean, I think Daizen played as a striker when he was in Japan before,” Jota said. “So when Ange [Postecoglou] brought him to Celtic, I think he came as a striker, and then he kind of adapted to winger.

"As I said before, the game and our structure is made for us to be successful and do our best things, and I think that's exactly what they did; both Kyogo and Daizen. I think in the end, it's Celtic who benefits from anything.”

Maeda’s tireless work rate and pressing ability have made him a valuable asset across multiple positions, and his recent exploits through the middle have provided Rodgers with an extra option in attack as Celtic push for another league title.

With the Hoops facing a crucial period in their title defence, the tactical adaptability of both Jota and Maeda could prove vital as Rodgers looks to maximise his squad’s strengths heading into the business end of the season.

 

The installation process has gone quicker than some predicted but just wait and see Jota go after he gets a summer reboot.

The Celtic winger is already up and running following his return to the club after 18 months away.


It’s been all systems go with four goals and a couple of assists in the first few months of his second coming.


Jota wasn’t going to hang about when it came to his Celtic restart but he’s promised even more to come once he gets a pre-season tune-up.

The wideman said: “Yeah, Jota 2.0! He’s getting ready for it. Well, let’s see. This time they won’t catch me! I really hope so. Imagine if it’s not!”

Jota had his tongue firmly in his cheek, even if he is predicting big things next term. There’s still plenty to come in this one though and he’s determined to maintain his flying start to his life back in Scotland. Jota said: “I feel very good. I obviously didn’t know how things would go because I cannot predict the future.

“The only thing I was sure is that I was going to give the best of myself. But fortunately, things have been going in a very good way. I just want to keep on track and to see where this can lead me.

“Well, yeah, I’ve heard (it would take a while to get up to speed) a couple of times. But on myself, I still feel like I have some time to achieve what I see for myself. I’m putting no pressure on that


I just want to do the daily work so I can achieve it, and whenever it comes, it comes.”

Jota is a pretty chilled out chap at the best of times but it’s clear he feels comfortable in his surroundings in Scotland. The 26-year-old is not one to shut himself away in his flat all week, turn up for training and then go back and lock the door.

He was out and about last time around in these parts and has picked up where he left off, although he has picked up a new pal this time – a pet pooch.



He said: “Yeah, definitely. I think Celtic is home for me. It’s a place where I feel really comfortable, and it couldn’t have been a better choice for this new path of my career.

“I have a very international dog! He’s a toy poodle from France. But he has been everywhere already, like Portugal, France, Ireland, Scotland. But it’s a wee dog. He’s like six months. So far, he’s been enjoying it. But he’s really tiny, which is really funny. When the wind comes, he goes



Jota has been flying on the pitch as well and he admitted it’s been an easy transition under Brendan Rodgers.


The Hoops boss is very much his own man but there are some similarities to his old gaffer Ange Postecoglou. They both love their wingers – even if they do demand a lot from them.

Jota said: “It’s a tough job, yeah, but that’s a good thing. Because then we get the reward.

“I really like the approach Brendan has with the players and the communication he has.


For me, it was just really easy to come and adapt again and be with the lads because of the connection, it was really good.

“I think there are similarities in the game. Both managers have similarities but everyone is different. Brendan has his own ideas, Ange has his own ideas


“It’s different timings as well, different teams, different players. The structure of Celtic is here and I think that’s the most important. Then it’s just a matter of putting it all together and fighting for the same thing.

“Obviously, I’ve been here only for two months, so I think it’s not enough time as well to see much of the differences between what one was doing and what another was doing.

“Obviously, when you compare both of the games, you can see a lot of similarities. For me, it’s good because it’s a way I like to play


Jota also likes to win – and Celtic are heading into the winning months.

The Hoops are looking to clock up another victory at St Johnstone tomorrow lunchtime and it could take them to within just another two of being confirmed champions yet again.

Jota already has five medals tucked away from his first spell at Parkhead and he is hungry for more. But it’s the memories rather than the silverware that he is really chasing.


Jota said: “I think I have the medals in Portugal. My family takes care of it, so I think they’re in Portugal at the moment.

“Maybe in the future those will be something to look back on, I suppose. I’m not someone very attached to the past either, so I prefer to leave the moments inside me.


“If I look at them, I will obviously be happy, but for me the feelings and sensations are different, are better. It’s always important as well to enjoy what we achieve because otherwise it starts to be kind of like a routine

“You need to always be grateful and mindful about the things you achieve. Every win is important so we need to celebrate it and then we think on to the next one. That’s the key factor

 

Honestly was surprised that he’d start slow and need nursed into form surprising when he came back.

I was expecting maybe fitness but sheer emotion and adrenaline as soon as he heard the fans chanting his song to light a fire under him. And it’s been largely that. The adrenaline is wearing off as the fitness is creeping back up. Having Forrest back now as well as Yang, and Maeda being able to go back wide bringing Idah on. We have the options to manage him back to as fit as possible, and Rodgers will be demanding the best shape he can get into as possible. He was adept at Anges demands and that for me is more demanding on a players fitness than BR’s. So I’m looking forward to after a pre-season in him next season, with Kieran * Tierney behind him. That is unreal.