Jota looks set to be out until after the winter break meaning of course he is going to miss out on both the League Cup Final on 19 December against Hibs and also the Glasgow Derby at Celtic Park on 2 January 2022, although obviously there is the slimmest of chance that he’ll be available for that one.
Today at the end of his Mixed Media Conference Ange dropped the Jota bombshell, confirming what we all suspected that Jota is going to be out for three to four weeks minimum.
Incidentally, hopefully you are enjoying how the Celtic Fan Media input and influence at all of these conferences in recent weeks is starting to shine through, changing the tone and the content and asking questions that the Celtic Supporters would like the manager and the players to answer.
“Who are these brave people, these warriors, accusing people?” Ange asked rhetorically. “Kyogo’s the size of a jockey and he’s playing against guys a foot taller than him.
He has been great for our football club and Scottish football,” was part of Ange’s superb answer at the start of today media event ahead of the Europa League match against Real Betis tomorrow night.
🎥🍀 “Kyogo’s the size of a jockey, playing against guys almost a foot taller than him and all these brave warriors on the outside are casting aspersions”.
Ange Postecoglou hits back at people accusing Kyogo of diving. pic.twitter.com/Z0EYRKLWJ2
— Clyde 1 Superscoreboard (@ClydeSSB) December 8, 2021
The hacks meanwhile seems a wee bit upset that Ange seemed to enjoy the game too match at Tannadice and accused him of celebrating with the supporters.
Here’s the manager’s realistic update on Jota which came right at the end of the Mixed Media Conference.
“He won’t be right for the Cup final. A few weeks means a few weeks. How long that stretches out for, we’ll wait and see. We’re waiting for the final diagnosis but when it came in it was going to be 3-4 weeks recovery depending on how he’s going.
“It only happened a week ago so if you look at timelines, it gets pretty tight between now and the break. We’ll just have to see how he recovers from it.”
Earlier Ange confirmed that Stephen Welsh has recovered and is available for tomorrow and that Anthony Ralston is not far away but won’t be involved against the Spanish side tomorrow. Nor will James Forrest, who felt a tightness in his hamstring at Tannadice and was taken off as a precaution. It’s nothing serious but he won’t be risked tomorrow.
Here’s Ange’s Mixed Media Conference which even includes a tactics question from The Cynic on Joe Hart’s distribution!
🎙️Ange Postecoglou spoke to the media today ahead of tomorrow’s final #UEL group stage match.
Watch in full on YouTube ⤵️#CELRBB | #COYBIG 🍀
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) December 8, 2021
