Manager delighted with Fir Park outcome | OneFootball

Less than half-an-hour into his second Celtic debut, Jota put the seal on another three points for the Celts.

All the groundwork had been done earlier on with two extremely well-worked goals by Daizen Maeda and Adam Idah that paved the way for the important 3-1 away win over Motherwell.

Manager, Brendan Rodgers was pleased with the performance that always threatened to score more goals, and, had it not been for a couple that were chalked off, the result could have comprehensively matched the display.

The Irishman said: “I thought the performance was very good.

“We started fast in the game, scored a really, really good goal, playing forward, running forward, so then Daizen comes in at the back post.

“So that got us in a good place in the game. We just had a couple of moments in the first half when we were a fraction deep whenever the ball broke down instead of being able to counter-press, and we were able to organise that at half-time.

“I liked how we controlled it at 2-1, because sometimes at 2-1 it only takes a long throw or a corner, but we controlled all those moments really well, and then we get a deserving third goal right at the very end.

“So really pleased with everything that gave to the game.

“On a difficult surface, the guys played on it really well because it was quite bobbly really. But overall in the second half we were dynamic, we were fluid in some of our moments in the game, and unfortunate not to have got the third goal earlier.”

That third goal did come in time added on when Jota capped his return in fine style to put the icing on another very sweet move.

The manager said: “He can bring a lot once he’s fit. I’ve certainly seen, having watched him before in the levels he was at, he’s a Celtic winger, he can beat the defender, he can take people on, he can run in behind, and he’s very, very effective and efficient when he has the ball.

“He’s had a challenging 18 months, so he’s not at the physical level that we would want him to be at – it’s just step by step bringing him into the game today.

“He’ll build on that fitness, but you can see his undoubted quality and that was really pleasing.”

That half-hour or so was Jota’s first appearance under Brendan Rodgers, however, no fewer than 229 of Callum McGregor’s 500 games have been played under the Irishman.

The manager said of his captain’s achievement in reaching the 500 milestone: “He’s the perfect role model for any young player, and obviously for the senior players here as well.

“I’ve managed him in a lot of the games that he has played, and clearly very proud to have played a little part in his career, but everything that’ he’s done has been down to his professionalism, his mentality.

“He’s just a class act on and of the pitch, and to achieve 500 games for Celtic is an incredible accolade and he has the full respect of everyone on and off the pitch here at Celtic.”

Fixtures

Motherwell Vs. Celtic - Sun, Feb 2nd 2025, 15:00 Final score: 1 - 3 Match Report