Jota is determined to stay a swashbuckling Celtic problem-solver to uphold the ideals of his iconic mentor Fernando Chalana.
The Portuguese winger is enjoying a second stunning season at Parkhead and won the PFA Scotland Goal of the Season award for his impish touch and dink over Rangers keeper Jon McLaughlin during a 4-0 Old Firm win in September. Just three weeks before when, following another 30-yard screamer against Kilmarnock, Jota paid tribute to Chalana in his celebration.
Following the death of the Benfica great four days previously, the winger ran for the cameras at Rugby Park to show a wristband bearing the ex-coach’s name. Jota was desperate to deliver for a man he said always taught him to play that bit differently, to stand out from the crowd, to be a game-changer.
The attacker remains determined to stick to the ideals taught to him by Chalana who was dubbed by the Lisbon giants after his death at the age of 63 as “our little genius”. Jota said: “He was definitely someone who believed in me, even when I didn’t believe in myself. That says a lot of such a quality player because he saw something and I just stick with his ideas.
“He said to me, ‘Son, just be different from everyone else because football is becoming really not interesting and the ones who are going to thrive and to be better are the ones who do different stuff and can solve problems when no one can solve them’. So I just stick with those ideas. Inside the philosophy of the game of course. There are always periods during the season that you need to find this creativity and he was someone that shone every time he went on to the pitch doing whatever he was doing because he was just a special player.
“When they showed me his videos I saw each time he was already doing some incredible stuff that no one else was doing. This says a lot about what he was as a football player and, on my side, I just try to do my thing and to express myself in the best way possible.”
Postecoglou’s men are winners but in the best traditions of the club, they have triumphed with style.
Jota has medals but there’s no doubt, given his teachings, that Chalana would be proud of the cavalier way the winger has earned his success. He added: “In the first thought it’s like whenever you went on the pitch just do your thing and make sure you are not afraid to express yourself.
“That’s what I try to do and I think he will always be proud of that. That is the first point. After that, like with the trophies and the success, of course he’s definitely proud and, yeah, I just want to keep on doing my people, my family, my friends proud and these people that have inspired me all over the years.”
Although demanding of a workrate to ensure the team structure works, Postecoglou has made no secret of the fact he loves his players to be free and creative.
The goal of the season came from improvisation – Callum McGregor’s quick free-kick, Matt O’Riley’s through ball and Jota’s finish. He said: “I should give some credit to Matt because if it was not for his amazing pass, I wouldn’t be able to be in that part of the pitch to score. For all of the effort of the team to able to put me into these positions, I am grateful to everyone.
“That is something that was clear since day one. You need to stick with the structure of the team but then you will have the creativity to do your own stuff and to be able to express yourself on the pitch. It is no different for any player. We know exactly what we have to do but then it is all about finding the right passes and the right places to deliver results.”
In doing so, Jota has won two titles at Celtic in two years. His old club Benfica are on the brink of doing the same in his homeland.
In the season of Chalana’s death it would be fitting as he said: “That would probably be the perfect year, to be fair.
“I am just buzzing for them and what they are doing this season. So I just hope they can get to be crowned champions at the end of the year.”
Jota is making his own memories. These are special times for the Portuguese. Many more could follow in his embryonic career and looking back will come later.
Asked if this season would stick in his mind when the boots are hung up he said: “I have a straight answer for that which is that I am so into the moment that I don’t realise how the things can be remembered one day.
“So I just want to live day by day and whatever happens in the future will be. And as long as I am happy every day playing football then the memories will just create themselves naturally. That’s it.”
There may be one final chapter to be written in the campaign at the Scottish Cup Final against Inverness.
Celtic lost just a second domestic game all season last weekend to Rangers but Jota hopes for a swift recovery.
The Portuguese said: “We understand the mistakes we have made in the past. So we are going to look at that and just grow strong for the next game.”
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