Journalist Graham Spiers has been left impressed on The Press Box podcast about what he saw Jota do very well last weekend for Celtic.
Celtic have made a very impressive start to the season under Ange Postecoglou, winning their opening two games of the SPFL season as they look to defend their crown, although on the transfer front, it’s been a lot quieter compared to last summer.
However, someone who has made their move to Celtic a permanent one is winger Jota, who starred last season for the Bhoys, registering 27 goal involvements across all competitions and boasts one goal and three assists thus far, but it’s something a lot less talked about that has left Spiers impressed.
Spiers liked the way that Jota constantly wanted the ball despite repeatedly being knocked off it and fouled against Ross County.
He said: “The physicality around him was pretty intense [v Ross County] and he went back and back and back again, he kept wanting the ball. And actually, I thought it said something for him.
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“Whatever else you say about him – and sometimes I’ve thought Jota’s a bit of a show pony at times – but he had menace around him [on Saturday], and what was striking seeing it at such close quarters, you know that stadium in Dingwall, time and again, under physical duress, he wanted the ball. It was quite impressive in its own way.”
TIF Thoughts on Jota…
It’s quite something for Spiers to have labelled Jota as a show pony despite the impressive numbers he put up in a green and white shirt last season, however, now having seen him up close and personal, he certainly appears to have changed his mind.
Celtic managed to secure the services of Jota permanently for just £6.5m, convincing him to stay in Glasgow instead of returning to Benfica, which could see them make a major profit on him in the future if he continues to perform at this level, and he does look as if he is making a name for himself at the club.