Dundee defender Cammy Kerr has given an insight into just how difficult it is trying to contain in form Celtic winger Jota and the attacking threat Ange Postecoglou’s team present as a whole.
Portuguese playmaker Jota has been in outstanding form recently bagging 6 goals in his past 11 games from the wide area, including two on Sunday against Dundee at Dens Park. Celtic are currently the top scorers in the Cinch Premiership with 30 goals so far this season in only 13 games showing the attacking threat they possess all over the pitch.
7th November 2021; Dens Park, Dundee, Scotland: Scottish Premiership football, Dundee FC versus Celtic;
The Dundee right back told Daily Record: “I always try to look at my game straight away and that’s probably where I went wrong.
“First half, I let him have it and started to go off the one-twos and match him for pace with that. But, once I had won it a few times, I maybe thought, ‘Right I’ll go tighter’. And that’s when they show their quality and they can knock it around you.
“You pride yourself on your defensive displays against those teams one-on-one. To be fair, in the first half, I felt I dealt with it quite well. But that’s the quality they have.
“Two instances in the first five minutes of the second half and they punish you. After that, I probably got too attracted to the ball and that’s what they do. They suck you in and then punish you more.
7th November 2021; Dens Park, Dundee, Scotland: Scottish Premiership football, Dundee FC versus Celtic; Joao Pedro Neves Filipe Jota of Celtic makes it 3-1 in the 47th minute
“I’m just trying to be brutally honest. It’s a lesson I will take on for myself. I probably look at myself. Second half, first five minutes, that’s probably on me. My game is to stop their attackers and I didn’t do it. So I will take the blame for that. It’s a wee learning curve for me.”
The attacking display put on by Celtic at the weekend was at times a joy to watch and when they are in full flow like that it must be a traumatic experience for opposing defences. As Cammy Kerr candidly explained, it only takes a momentary lapse in concentration for someone as talented as Jota to suck you in and punish you.
Kerr goes on to explain that defences generally know what our forwards are going to do but it’s the relentless nature of their attacking play that ends up breaking teams down during the match. He said “I wouldn’t say it is unpredictability. We know what they are going to do.
7th November 2021; Dens Park, Dundee, Scotland: Scottish Premiership football, Dundee FC versus Celtic; Joao Pedro Neves Filipe Jota of Celtic celebrates after he makes it 3-1 in the 47th minute
“They have good players in the wide areas and they look to play one-twos in behind you. It’s all about matching their movements, but I’d say it is relentless in the way they play in the fact that it is non-stop attack.
“No matter if we go at them, they will still come back. As I go back to, they are a good side. It was a tough day for us. The boys showed good character to stay in the game, but don’t get me wrong, what a side they are. They are a good side.
7th November 2021; Dens Park, Dundee, Scotland: Scottish Premiership football, Dundee FC versus Celtic; Liel Abada of Celtic on the ball
“They are top-quality players and the way they move the ball for the whole 90 minutes is great.”
With us now officially into yet another International break, thankfully the last one this year, let’s hope that we can hit the ground running on our return back to domestic competition as we take on current holders St Johnstone in the league cup semi final on Saturday 20 November.
7th November 2021; Dens Park, Dundee, Scotland: Scottish Premiership football, Dundee FC versus Celtic; Kyogo Furuhashi of Celtic celebrates after he makes it 4-1 in the 50th minute
I have a feeling Cammy Kerr won’t be the last defender this season left with a bruised ego when coming up against Jota and the rest of Celtic’s attack. Roll on next Saturday when the Bhoys are back on town!
Conall McGinty
2 goals & a place in #TOTW 👀@CelticFC's Jota shone in Sunday's match at Dens! 🔥#cinchPrem pic.twitter.com/3eNj53wJf7
— SPFL (@spfl) November 9, 2021
