Jota has gone back to basics to again produce the brilliance.
The winger has recaptured his sparkle at an ideal time as he prepares for his first Cup Final at Celtic. After a blistering debut season in Glasgow and the subsequent completion of a £6.5 million permanent move to Parkhead, Jota kicked off this term in majestic form. Stunning goals such as one against Aberdeen on the opening day of the season, another long-range special at Kilmarnock and a wondrous finish in the 4-0 win over Rangers typified his outstanding contribution. Jota kept up pace with goals in Leipzig and Madrid during the Champions League group stage campaign, but in a spell before and after the World Cup break, the Portuguese’s lights dimmed.
Eight games without a goal must feel like an age for a player of his quality. However, in recent outings, Jota has shown clear signs of returning to peak powers. Sparked by the creation of an equaliser for Kyogo Furuhashi against Rangers after coming off the bench, the 23-year-old is motoring towards full pelt again as the sides prepare to meet again at Hampden. Returning to the scoresheet against Kilmarnock in the game immediately after Ibrox, Jota has been back displaying his impish creativity on a regular basis for Ange Postecoglou’s side.
The attacker was out injured when his team lifted the trophy last season by beating Hibs in the final, but he’s ready to go for Sunday’s showdown at Hampden. Former Celtic attacker Simon Donnelly acknowledges the changing of the gears in terms of the winger in recent weeks as he explained: “I think he is getting back to top form.
“After starting the season like a house on fire, his form had dipped a wee bit for whatever reason. You don’t know sometimes what can happen.
"Things can dip. A wee bit of confidence can go if you are not feeling well or have an injury or something in that regard.
“Ange had also taken him out of the team for one or two games, but there have been definite signs recently and I feel he’s just getting back to the basics in terms of what got him the number of assists and goals that he achieved before. He’s putting things into the box which are so hard to defend and when you have someone like Kyogo who relishes and attacks those.
“Jota is also getting into positions and getting on the end of things himself. He crept in for a goal against Kilmarnock just ahead of the goalkeeper and did again when at Tannadice against Dundee United for a header.
“That is the area where Liel Abada gets his goals and I think that has added to Jota’s confidence. He’s looking close to being back at the top of his game.
“I think he’s stripped it back a bit to what was happening before.”
Donnelly believes it is perfectly understandable that top attacking players can drop off their highest speeds from time to time. He continued: “All players can have a wee dip at certain times.
I would say players like Jota as well who are always being looked upon to go and create stuff and make things happen in the final third of the pitch, it’s the most difficult part of the game. You look at his figures since he moved to the club and they have been exceptional.
"The numbers of goals and assists are really, really good. I said last season, you look at players who operate in Jota’s area of the pitch.
"They can have all the skill and ability, but the end product might not be there. That is not something you can point and say about Jota. He most certainly has an end product.
“His confidence may have taken a little dip when things might just not have been happening, but I feel he’s got back to getting those crosses in early and getting onto the end of things to deliver goals, which always helps.
He has gone back to basics and what worked before.”
In fairness, to stay in Postecoglou’s line-up, any player must be at the top of their performance levels. The manager has a range of options at his disposal across the pitch with the wide attacking areas especially stocked.
Abada has 11 goals this season. Daizen Maeda has been in scorching form since returning from the World Cup. Sead Haksabanovic displayed glimpses of his obvious ability prior to Qatar and once more against Aberdeen last weekend and James Forrest has delivered whenever asked by the manager.
Donnelly thinks the competition for places and ability to rotate demands peak showings and said: “It’s a position where, if you are not doing it, the numbers of others are brilliant.
“It’s fantastic for the manager to have. Abada’s numbers. On the other side Maeda has returned for the World Cup and he’s different to Jota.
“His trick is pushing the ball beyond a defender and running at him. He must be a nightmare to play against, he’s contributing hugely in every game when he’s on the pitch.
“So the manager has created an environment when these players have to be at the top of their game or they will find themselves sitting and watching. This is the reason why he has built the squad as strong as he has.”
