Not everyone was a fan of the tears from Jota – but there was nothing but love from where it really matters to the Celtic star.
The Portuguese superstar was back in green and white for the first time in 18 months as he came off the bench against Motherwell to net the third goal in a 3-1 victory for the Hoops. It was an emotional moment after a year and a half in which his career threatened to hit the skids, and as he raced over to celebrate in front of the travelling fans, it seemed to all get to him at once.
The 25-year-old was visibly in tears of joy and there were a few post-match snipes on TV coverage which have since been slammed as ‘nasty.’ But within the Celtic camp and its immediate orbit? It’s been all welcoming with Jota told he can let the tears flow if he needs to. Here’s what some of the big names at Celtic have been saying about his big return.
Brendan Rodgers
“He’s emotional! The journey that he’s been on since being here and then leaving, just not having that feeling. It’s a really, really difficult club when you come away from it, especially when you’re a player like him, when you’re adored to that level that he was when he was here the first time. He probably thought he was never going to feel that again.
“So, to come back and get the goal, and obviously the support, they idolise him. Just like for every player, you want to feel wanted, appreciated, and he knows he has that here.
“He knows the training ground is an internal culture which is based around respect. He has that, and obviously the supporters love him. Step by step, he needs to get to a level of fitness. But you can see in cameos like that, he’s quality.
“It was a nice moment for him. He was a superstar when he was here the first time and it’s been a challenge for him, obviously, leaving, but he couldn’t have written that any better.
“He’s a wonderful player, he obviously has a way to go in terms of his fitness, but he’s someone who can beat a man. He doesn’t just look like a good player, he is a good player. He can beat a man, he’s very effective. Once he gets up to fitness in terms of how I want him to press the game, he’s going to be a fantastic player again.”
Callum McGregor
“These things in football, they crop up all the time. He’s a special player, he’s come back in and it’s like he was never away. When the football starts, he gets his goal – a brilliant way to welcome him back in.”
Adam Idah
“I’m really excited to play more games with him, hopefully he can deliver some assists for me. But yeah, he’s brilliant, we’ve seen it there, we’ve seen it in training, we’ve seen it before. He’s a top, top player and we’re so happy to have him back.”
Chris Sutton
“It didn’t take him long, did it?! Composed finish. It’s all about Daizen Maeda, who has had a terrific game. Careless defending from Motherwell, but it’s a great spot from Maeda. Jota just has to control the finish. He isn’t going to miss that, a player of his quality. Game, set and match. Jota is back!
And were the tears from Jota a good thing? Sutton added: “Absolutely. He shouldn’t have left in the first place.”