Celtic supporters yesterday gave Jota a warm, enthusiast and noisy welcome back after the Portuguese winger suffered a muscle strain on Champions League duty in Leipzig three weeks ago.
That meant the Celtic goalscorer in Leipzig had to sit out the next two Champions League matches, the home matches against RB Leipzig and Shakhtar Donetsk, which would have been frustrating to say the least, but Jota is now back and he very much appreciate the welcome afforded to him on his return to action against Livingston yesterday afternoon.
“I think this shows what Celtic is all about, and the support we have every time we play, either at Celtic Park or away,” Jota said in the media room after the match, as reported by Glasgow Times. “After this support, we just have to show ourselves on the pitch and fight for them.
“It was a very important moment for me coming back from injury, but most of all it was about the victory for the team,” Jota added. “This was a game that we knew was going to be very difficult like every season, every time we come here, but I was very happy to get the win.”
Jota of course celebrated his return with a splendid finish to an inch perfect David Turnbull cross and of course despite being sidelined in recent weeks, the Celtic winger was also delighted to get named in Portugal’s provisional 55-man squad for the World Cup.
“That’s a very good moment for me and for my family,” the Celtic star said. “I’m just grateful for everything that is going on. Two years ago I was not even playing for any club. I was at a club of course, but I wasn’t having many minutes.
“Two years later, to be on this 55-man list is something very good for me, but this is just another step. I just need to keep working and enjoying it on the pitch, and everything will come naturally.
“You cannot just be obsessed with those kinds of things. I wake up every day with the mentality of being a better person and a better football player, and building a strong base to be better.”
