FANS’ favourite Filipe Jota sees treble ahead.
The Portuguese personality left Celtic after scoring in the 3-1 Scottish Cup Final victory over Inverness Caley Thistle in June 2023 as Ange Postecoglou’s team claimed a world record eighth domestic clean sweep.
Jota returned to the champions in January after 18 months in Saudi Arabia and France and is already playing his part in the Hoops’ bid for a ninth trio of domestic honours.
The maverick winger netted the clinching goal on his comeback in the 3-1 win over Motherwell at Fir Park a few days after his sensational return and he fired in his fourth strike in the 3-0 victory over Hearts at Parkhead at the weekend.
FINAL FAREWELL…Portuguese pin-up Bhoy Filipe Jota with the Scottish Cup as Celtic seal a world record eighth treble in June 2023.
Jota, who helped Celtic to five honours in his first spell after his £6.5million arrival from Benfica, was too late to join in the Premier Sports League Cup success over Philippe Clement’s Ibrox side in December, but he can illuminate the forthcoming seven league games as Brendan Rodgers and Co zero in on four in a row.
Plus the 26-year-old wizard will get another chance to enjoy and exploit the wide open spaces of the national stadium again when the holders take on St Johnstone in the Scottish Cup semi-final a fortnight on Sunday.
Looking forward to the silverware run-in, Jota said: “The guys fought really hard in the first six months of the season and then I joined in the middle.
“They’ve done a great job and that allows us now to be in a very good position, so we go strong for the last matches.
“This is a moment when we have to pull out our A game. We had to do that in the past in order to be in this position and we feel like we’re working towards our goal.
“Now’s the time to give the last push.”
HEAVEN’S ABOVE…Filipe Jota can’t disguise his feelings.
Jota, speaking to Celtic TV, added: “Every season is different and the team is made for us to be the best version of ourselves.
“And, if everyone is doing their bit, it’s going to allow other players to shine, and with Daizen Maeda, I think that is the case.
“The team is putting him in very good positions to score and he’s doing a very good job on making it and fighting really hard as well for the team.
“So credit to him.”
Jota and Maeda, now sitting on 30 goals in a prolific crusade, will team up again when Celtic travel to Perth on Sunday as they continue their quest for points.
That’s got to be bad news for the St Johnstone defenders.
