Jota Eyes Stronger Return After Injury Layoff

Celtic winger Jota has expressed his determination to return to peak performance after a lengthy 18-month recovery from a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury. The Portuguese player, who sustained the injury in April 2025, made his comeback in recent victories over Motherwell and Hearts.

Jota appeared as a second-half substitute in the 7-1 win against Hearts, showcasing moments of skill that delighted the home crowd. Reflecting on his time away from the pitch, the 27-year-old admitted to battling personal "demons" during his rehabilitation. However, he believes his absence has made him mentally stronger and that his best performances for Celtic are still ahead.

"I want to improve and be better," Jota stated when asked about reaching his previous level. "I’m very positive that good things will come. I’m accepting the present and how things are going and I’m trusting the process. There’s no lost time because, in the end, I grew a lot. I didn’t lose. I actually gained because, inside, I’m way stronger now."

He emphasized the profound joy football brings him, highlighting how the inability to play during his long layoff intensified his passion. "The happiest thing in life for me is to play football. I couldn’t do that in the last year. So right now, every time I step on the pitch, it means so much." He sees his dedication to the sport as his guiding principle, a passion that fueled his daily work to regain fitness even during difficult periods.

Jota received a standing ovation from the fans during the decisive win against Hearts. Although he is not registered for the Europa League and will miss the upcoming match against Celta Vigo, he conveyed his gratitude for the supporters' encouragement throughout his injury.

"Playing at Celtic Park again was a moment I was expecting for months," he said. "I think no better day to do it than with a good result, a good performance and just in front of our fans. It was a happy day."

He described his relationship with the Celtic fans as reciprocal, built on shared achievements. "I just want to guarantee that I will keep on trying to do everything that I can to help the team and to give joy and happiness to the fans whenever they come."

Regarding his return to starting roles, Jota acknowledged the need for a careful, metrics-driven approach to avoid setbacks. "We need to be clever obviously because I didn’t play for a long time and we don’t want to make any mistakes. So I think we’re in a comfortable situation when everyone realises what needs to be done for me to grow up and to feel better and healthier. Yeah, just trusting the process."