“I’m just enjoying the game, being happy on the pitch,” Jota

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The Celtic Star

·24 avril 2025

“I’m just enjoying the game, being happy on the pitch,” Jota

Celtic’s returning star Jota has insisted he is simply loving life at the moment and getting his passion for the game back after an extended period being out in the cold away from Paradise…

Jota celebrates with a young supporter. St Johnstone v Celtic, Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden Park on Sunday 20 April 2025. Photo by Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

The Portuguese winger made his way back home this January transfer window, after a lesson than will remain with him forever: life isn’t always better somewhere else.

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Jota’s Saudi Arabia return to Celtic via Rennes

The attacker was an instant hit in his last spell with the Bhoys, so much so the Celtic hierarchy decided to shell out £6.5 million for him following a very successful loan spell from Benfica. The season after that, Ange Postecoglou left Celtic Park and Jota wasn’t far behind, missing out on the chance to link up with Brendan Rodgers initially after a money-spinning move to the Middle East with Al-Ittihad.

Jota. St Johnstone v Celtic, Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden Park on Sunday 20 April 2025. Photo by Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

That didn’t last though and from there he went from exile in Saudi to another one in Ligue 1 with Stade Rennais. So when the opportunity arose in the New Year to return to the club where he made his name and was most loved, it was a no-brainer. Admittedly needing time to get back up to speed and find his form and physicality again, Jota was quizzed about comparisons between his last stint and the current one.

“There’s no point to prove here. I’m just enjoying the game, being happy on the pitch,” Jota

However, he revealed there is no need to draw such lines, stating: “There’s no point to prove here. I’m just enjoying the game, being happy on the pitch,” he said as reported by Scottish Sun. “Every day is a new opportunity to be better and to be happier, so that’s what I’m doing. I’m feeling very good. I think I needed time to develop my physical ability, because it was a long time without playing. But now I am feeling very good and ready to go stronger.”

Jota. St Johnstone v Celtic, Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden Park on Sunday 20 April 2025. Photo by Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

The former Benfica academy graduate climbed off the bench in Celtic’s Scottish Cup Semi-final with St Johnstone at the weekend too, sealing the victory with a well-worked and finessed goal between himself and and Alistair Johnston.

‘When I got my opportunity, I was there in the right spot”

On that one, he revealed: “It was a good performance from the team and when I got my opportunity, I was there in the right spot. Credit to Alistair too because he did an unbelievable job. Every little moment is important for me and I am just grateful for living this experience here. The goal is the cherry on top of the cake for me, but the job is not done yet. You should always give your best and whatever needs to happen will happen naturally. So there’s no pressure on that. There’s the responsibility of being better every day and that’s where my aim is.”

Callum McGregor of Celtic celebrates with teammate James Forrest after scoring his team’s first goal during the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup Semi Final match between St Johnstone and Celtic at Hampden Park on April 20, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“Come on, he’s not that old — 33 is the new 22!’

Jota made way from the starting line-up at the weekend at the behest of the evergreen James Forrest, and he claimed his fellow pro is helping him every day, although couldn’t help but laugh when asked about his thoughts on Jamesie’s vast experience. “Come on, he’s not that old — 33 is the new 22! Don’t do him like that. But yeah, credit to him. James has had an unbelievable career and we’re just all grateful to have him on the pitch and on the team.

“There’s not one single person in the locker room who doesn’t love James”

“His record speaks for itself. I think there’s not one single person in the locker room who doesn’t love James, as a person and a football player. So we just try to drink from his wisdom and learn from him and just be a part of his journey. There are a lot of good personalities at the club and everyone tries to transmit what the values of Celtic are. And James is no different from that. You can learn a lot from him and I am just grateful that I’m doing this with him again.”

James Forrest. St Johnstone v Celtic, Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden Park on Sunday 20 April 2025. Photo by Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

“I’m really enjoying it. I think Brendan brings a good philosophy to the team”

Now having finally had the chance to work and operate under Irishman Rodgers and see first-hand his capability as a coach, Jota feels he is in a good place to develop even more under his tutelage now that he’s home. “I’m really enjoying it. I think Brendan brings a good philosophy to the team. I think the structure of Celtic is very well made. So then it’s just a matter of details and I think he has done a very good job in putting the team together,” he said.

“It’s about all being together and giving the best for Celtic”

“He’s developing his ideas and we’re having a good time. Importantly, the core group was still here when I came back. I still try to learn from them and whoever comes in new, I try to help and perform with them. I think being here for the first time and having lived what I lived, it was really good. Then performances are a matter of perspective. What’s the higher level? In the end, it’s about all being together and giving the best for Celtic.”

Paul Gillespie

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