Tonight’s meeting with theRangers at Parkhead will be the first chance for summer signing Jota to experience the fervour of derby day in Glasgow as the top two in the Cinch Premiership collide in a huge match, which could see the two teams swap positions at the summit of the table by full time.
The on-loan Benfica star missed the first match between the pair at the start of the season as he was still finalising his move to Glasgow and he admits he’s feeling excited by the prospect of finally featuring in the big one. The Portuguese winger states he can’t wait to sample the atmosphere, and with tonight’s game being playing in front of a packed Parkhead uniquely full of only Celtic fans, he will get to enjoy it without the poisonous input from the away section.
Speaking about making his derby debut, he told Celtic TV:
“I haven’t lived this moment yet because I only signed one or two days after the first derby of the season
“I got the opportunity to see it in Paris through an iPad.
“It was a massive game. Unfortunately we didn’t get the win but now we are going to fight to get the win, like in every game. I just can’t wait for the atmosphere, for the fans to be with us and to bring the victory.
“For sure (the fans and the players are united). The vibe has been really good and the players are getting to know each other more and more, day after day, because there are always new signings.
“This season is different from the others because we have 15 or 17 new signings, so we are just getting to know each other. I think now we are a real family so I can’t wait for these next months.”
Celtic cut the gap at the top of the Premiership to two points on Saturday when a late late goal by Liel Abada against Dundee United sent Celtic Park into euphoria, with the fans and players showing their joy in an outburst of emotion after what had been a hugely frustrating 90 minutes.
Jota provided the perfect assist to Abada and videos have emerged of the Portuguese winger enjoying the moment with fans behind the goal afterwards as Celtic delivered a hammer blow to their Glasgow rivals, who had dropped points earlier in the day against Ross County up in Dingwall.
“I think those are the moments we live for,” Jota said regarding the late drama.
“To get the victory right at the end of the game says how much we are as a team and how much we want to win.
“Those feelings will keep going through our mind for the rest of the season and we want to do that – well, we don’t want it every game because the adrenaline will break our hearts!”
He’s not the only one who felt that adrenaline rush as we all experienced it ourselves whether at the game, in the pub or at home, it truly was a special moment. Celtic have put us through that rollercoaster of emotion a few times this season already so a nice easy drama free win tonight would be perfect, but if watching Ange Postecoglou’s side this season has taught us anything it’s that this will be highly unlikely.
As long as we bag the three points and return to our rightful position at the top of the table I doubt many will care how we do it. Be prepared to strap yourself in for a bumpy ride……
Conall McGinty
