FILIPE JOTA stepped onto a rollercoaster on the day he quit Celtic in July 2023.
The fans’ favourite, who had wowed the Hoops support in his two years at the champions after originally arriving on loan from Benfica, left on a high after playing a significant role in the club’s eighth domestic clean sweep.
The Portuguese maverick netted the pivotal third goal in the 3-1 Scottish Cup Final triumph over Inverness Caley Thistle on June 3 after heading the winner against Rangers in the previous round at Hampden.
However, Jota’s £25million move to cash-rich Saudia Arabian club Al-Ittihad transformed into a year-long Middle East nightmare and life didn’t get much better in France at Rennes.
HEAD BHOY…Filipe Jota nods the 2023 Scottish Cup semi-final winner past Allan McGregor on Celtic’s way to an eighth treble.
After five months at the struggling Ligue 1 side, now home to Kyogo Furuhashi, of course, the 26-year-old winger returned to Parkhead in a £8.5million deal and hit the ground running with the clincher in the 3-1 win at Motherwell on February 2 shortly after coming on as a late substitute.
He claimed his fourth strike in the 5-0 Scottish Cup semi-final victory over St Johnstone at the weekend to set up a grand finale to the season against Aberdeen at Hampden on Saturday May 24 where, coincidentally, Celtic can claim another treble, the ninth in their proud history.
Reflecting on the latest romp at the national stadium, the flamboyant wide Bhoy said: “It was a good performance from the team and when I got my opportunity, I was there in the right spot.
“Credit to Alistair Johnston because he did an unbelievable job finding me with the cross.
“I always try to enjoy the moment and to be helpful for the team.”
FIVE-STAR JOTA…the Portuguese wizard strikes No.5 past St Johnstone keeper Andy Fisher as Celtic romp into next month’s Scottish Cup Final against Aberdeen.
When it was flagged up that only eight of Jota’s 15 appearances came from the start, the entertainer insisted: “There’s no point to prove here.
“I’m just enjoying the game, being happy on the pitch.
“Every day is a new opportunity to be better and to be happier, so that’s what I’m doing.
“I’m really enjoying working under the manager, Brendan Rodgers. I think he brings a good philosophy to the team.
“I think the structure of Celtic is very well made, so then it’s just a matter of details and I think he has done a very good job on putting the team together, developing his ideas and we are having a good time.
BHOYS WILL BE BHOYS…Filipe Jota is congratulated by a young fan after his Hampden goal.
“I think I needed time to develop my physical ability because it was a long time without playing, but now I’m feeling very good and stronger and ready to go.”
Asked if it would be next season before he will hit the standard he displayed so consistently first-time around, Jota speaking to the Daily Record, answered: “Well, that’s a matter of perspective. What’s the higher level?
“I always think that you should always give the best and whatever needs to happen will happen naturally, so there’s no pressure on that.
“There’s the responsibility of being better every day and that’s where my aim is.
“In the end, it’s about all being together and giving the best for Celtic.”
Jota also applauded multi award-winning team-mate James Forrest, who will celebrate his 34th birthday in the summer.
The veteran Celt is a point away from his 13th title and will lift his 27th medal if the holders take care of the Dons when the curtain comes down on the latest silverware crusade next month.
Jota smiled and added: “Come on, he’s not that old — 33 is the new 22!
FOR MY NEXT TRICK…Filipe Jota takes to the air to demonstrate his skills.
“But, yeah, credit to him, James has had an unbelievable career and we’re just all grateful to him on the pitch and on the team.
“The number of medals he has speaks for itself.
“There’s not one single person in the locker room who doesn’t love James, as a person and a football player, so we just try to drink from his wisdom and to learn from him and just be a part of his journey.
“There are a lot of good personalities in the club and everyone tries to transmit to us what the values of Celtic are.
“And, yeah, James was no different from that, you can learn a lot from him and I’m just grateful that I’m doing this with him.”
