Playing twice a week has been a new challenge for Jota since the forward joined Celtic, but the Benfica loanee has explained why he has been enjoying the task, via The Scottish Sun.
Ange Postecoglou has relied heavily on the 22-year-old providing an attacking threat on the left-flank since he joined the Hoops. Celtic loaned Jota from Benfica on a season-long deal on September 1, and he has started all seven fixtures since.
Jota had only started seven times in Benfica’s first-team over 34 games in all competitions with the Portuguese giants. Only one of those starts came in the Primeira Liga, too, before joining Real Valladolid for a year last season.
Again, however, Jota only cut an impact role more often than not with eight starts over 18 games. But the youngster has established a prominent place for himself at Celtic, as the Glasgow outfit have juggled their Premiership, Europa League and League Cup fixtures.
Jota is relishing the challenge of now playing twice a week, and the responsibilities of being a Celtic player.
“Playing twice a week is something new for me,” Jota explained. “I have never done this before; it is my first time. For sure, it is an amazing feeling because you don’t get time to think about the bad things.
“You have to go to the next game with the best mentality and just to recover. We have to be mentally ready, both collectively and individually, for every challenge. There is a big responsibility for this club. We have to win every game and win every challenge.”
Jota joy music to Postecoglou’s ears at Celtic
Jota’s joy at playing twice and week and the responsibilities of being a Celtic player will no doubt delight Postecoglou. The Hoops boss has called on the Portugal U21 international to play all 630-minutes available to him so far.
Postecoglou has never felt the need to rest Jota across his first month at Parkhead as Celtic juggled three competitions. Instead, throwing the Benfica product in at the deep end and seeing him come out swimming the other side.
Jota registered his first Bhoys assist against Real Betis in the Europa League to help open the scoring. He then scored his first goal to help beat Raith Rovers in the League Cup, before assisting in the league against Dundee United and netting the winner at Aberdeen.
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