Jota is focused for the run-in as Celtic close in on the title. But the Portuguese star insists there’s nothing new in that laser-like Parkhead mindset entering crunch time because the club’s demand for progression has had them on a mission from day one to lay their foundations for potential subsequent success.
Naturally, senses are heightened around the country approaching the campaign’s finale. With prizes being handed out, focus intensifies. Celtic are nine points clear of the Premiership pack with eight games to go as they look to add a second-successive title to back-to-back League Cup wins under Ange Postecoglou. The champions also have a Scottish Cup in their sights and are two games from lifting that trophy, too.
But, as Jota assessed the group’s current position moving into an exciting final two months, he pointed to the fact it’s their desire to treat every single week as crunch time from the very start which has placed them into their prosperous position nearing the conclusion.
He said: “We have our aims and our goals since the beginning of the season and we know that it is not going to come in one day. You need to build a good foundation and we have been doing that since the beginning of the season.
“Now we know we are reaching the end of the run, so that is a time to be focused. But I think sometimes people think too much about the end of the season. We have been doing this since the beginning. That is the key for our team. There is no moment when we go down or start to think about other stuff that is irrelevant. We just keep on doing our thing.”
The concentrated trait has served Jota and his colleagues well. It was he who helped get it all started with a thundering strike on the opening day of the campaign against Aberdeen.
Fast forward to game 30 and the Portuguese was banging home a penalty to set-up a victory over Ross County in Dingwall. Victory in the Highlands made it 28 wins from their 30 top-flight matches. Domestically, they are now 29 games undefeated in all competitions.
The figures are eye-watering, but Jota pressed the need to keep looking ahead as he said: “It’s important what you did in the past. You build on it, it is a base. But in the end I think you always need to step up your game. This is like a cycle.
“There are always new things happening for you to learn. If you don’t learn something in the moment, you will learn it in the future, so that is what we try to do. To be honest, I didn’t even know the numbers. I don’t know if some of my team-mates know. I just think day by day and game by game.
“We always go into the games to deliver good results, to win, to deliver good performances for the fans and for the staff. That is what we want to do. We just want to do that until the end of the season.
“Every win is a huge win. We go into every game with the aim of delivering the best result, of being the best version of ourselves. The Ross County game was no different.
“I think it wasn’t our best performance, but the most important thing was to get the three points in the end. We kept going. We will learn from the mistakes and we will be better next week, for sure.”
Jota’s 12th of the season against County was his 25th since joining the club. Since his arrival, there’s no doubt he’s been a vital contributor, but everyone is playing a part.
Established stars constantly deliver. Yet when the opportunities arise, newer faces take centre stage.
Tomoki Iwata was terrific in Dingwall on first start. Oh Hyeon-gyu looked razor sharp off the bench. And it was Alexandro Bernabei who capped the Highland success with a thunderbolt finish for his first-ever Celtic goal.
Jota smiled: “Alexandro is a very nice guy. He just moved from a totally different background. Football in Argentina is completely different from the football here.
“I think he deserved his first goal for a long time. I was just so happy for him.”
Bernabei has had to be patient with Greg Taylor excelling weekly at left-back, but Jota knows it’s a group effort and added: “This shows how good our group of players is and how ready they are to deliver our performances.
“It is our love for football and the way the structure is. All of the staff have made a very good base and foundation for us to feel at home.
“They have understood from day one that there is a system and formation here. They are very good on this.
“We want you to do this. It gives us freedom to play our type of game within the tactics and rules and formation. Then it is up to us in the dressing room to make everyone feel welcome. We know that once everyone is happy and performing then we will be closer to our goals.
“We always train very hard at Lennoxtown and any time there is an opportunity we are ready for it. That is why when there is a sub or whatever they always deliver.
“They have good numbers as well. As long as the level stays the same for the 90 minutes I think we will do very good.”
READ NEXT:
