Jota joked he’s set to be better than ever after he gets a full pre-season under his belt
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.”
