Jota’s Tears of Joy – “He probably thought he was never going to feel that again,” Brendan Rodgers | OneFootball

Brendan Rodgers spoke in glowing terms about new signing Jota and effectively states that our Superstar from Portugal will only now realise the magnitude of Celtic Football Club after having two spells at different clubs where it hasn’t quite worked out for him. The grass wasn’t greener after all even if the money was magnificent.

Jota scores his first goal after rejoining Celtic, Motherwell v Celtic, 2nd February 2025. Photo by Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Jota cared not a jot about that this afternoon when he came off the bench and picked up where he left off with a fine cameo showing in the second half where Celtic were in control at Fir Park but aided by some curiously drawn VAR lines the score was just 2-1. In truth it never looked like Motherwell would get a second equaliser but any remaining doubt was ended in stoppage time when the wonderful Daizen Maeda, with one goal and two assists on, set Jota up for his moment, the moment he has waited for for just over 18 months.

Jota scores his first goal after rejoining Celtic, Motherwell v Celtic, 2nd February 2025. Photo by Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Jota was home and he knows that there is no place like this. Five and a half years he’s here for and you get the feeling he plans to enjoy every single day and every magical moment like today at Fir Park.

Jota celebrates his first after rejoining Celtic, Motherwell v Celtic, 2nd February 2025. Photo by Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

“It was nice for him, a nice moment,” Brendan said. “He was a superstar when he was here the first time and it’s been a challenge for him, obviously, leaving, but he couldn’t have written that any better.

“He’s a wonderful player, he obviously has a way to go in terms of his fitness, but he’s someone who can beat a man. He doesn’t just look like a good player, he is a good player. He can beat a man, he’s very effective.

Jota celebrates his first goal after rejoining Celtic, Motherwell v Celtic, 2nd February 2025. Photo by Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

“Once he gets up to fitness in terms of how I want him to press the game, he’s going to be a fantastic player again.

“He’s emotional. The journey that he’s been on since being here and then leaving, just not having that feeling. It’s a really, really difficult club when you come away from it, especially when you’re a player like him, when you’re adored to that level that he was when he was here the first time. He probably thought he was never going to feel that again.

Jota celebrates his first goal after rejoining Celtic, Motherwell v Celtic, 2nd February 2025. Photo by Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

“So, to come back and get the goal, and obviously the support, they idolise him. Just like for every player, you want to feel wanted, appreciated, and he knows he has that here.

“He knows the training ground is an internal culture which is based around respect. He has that, and obviously the supporters love him. Step by step, he needs to get to a level of fitness. But you can see in cameos like that, he’s quality.

Jota celebrates his first goal goal after rejoining Celtic, Motherwell v Celtic, 2nd February 2025. Photo by Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

“It’s all about the personal ambition. I think that he’s had the sample now of two moves that hasn’t quite worked out. He also has the feeling of probably a more realistic feeling of the actual size of the club, and what Celtic can give him.

Jota is emotional after he scores his first after rejoining Celtic, Motherwell v Celtic, 2nd February 2025. Photo by Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

“So, my feeling is that he’ll come back even hungrier and be even better than he was the first time. Why? Because he knows what the other side looks like. And he probably won’t recognise and realise how lucky he is at a club like this here.

“So yes, he can be, but it’s all about the mentality. It’s happened so many times, players go and still create and develop their legacy even more. So that’s what I expect him to do.”

Jota is emotional after he scores his first goal after rejoining Celtic, Motherwell v Celtic, 2nd February 2025. Photo by Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)