“A great emotion” – Jota the matchwinner as Celtic overcome Rangers

Details: Published: Monday, 01 May 2023 15:26

Rangers 0-1 Celtic

Portuguese forward Jota was the matchwinner in the Old Firm Derby this weekend as Scottish champions Celtic booked their place in the FA Cup final with victory over Rangers.

The Glasgow rivals met at Hampden Park to battle it out for the right to meet Inverness CT in the final on 2^nd June. One goal separated the sides on the day, with former Benfica man Jota heading the winner a few minutes before half time to keep the Hoops on course for a treble.

“It’s a great emotion for me but I know this came from a lot of hard work,” Jota said after the victory. “We are like a unit so we’re all together on this in order for me to score – someone has to cross it, someone had to steal the ball before then.

“So it’s all in one and I’m just so happy to be part of this team with amazing lads and amazing staff, and I just keep on going.

“We’re very, very pleased with this win. I thought the boys put in an amazing shift again. We came with all of our strengths and we achieved our goal, which was the victory, to get to the final. So I’m thrilled with everything that is happening right now in this football club and I hope we can continue the run.

'It’s always special to play in these games and these are the ones where you always learn the most, that we feel the most, and we just want to feel alive.

“So whenever you get the opportunity to go out there and play against this kind of teams, that makes you be the best version of yourself, it’s always really important. So we just want to keep on doing this.”

On a great weekend for Portuguese goal scorers, Jota’s winner for Celtic against Rangers in the FA Cup semi final is right up there pic.twitter.com/ZsPLvP8UNE
— Sean Gillen (@SeanGillen9) May 1, 2023

Celtic secured the League Cup with victory over Rangers in February and have wrapped up the defence of their Premiership league title. If Jota’s men can beat Inverness in June they will clinch a domestic treble for the 8^th time in their history.

“As a Celtic player and be in this amazing group, we always aim for the trophies,” said Jota. “But we know that in order to achieve that, we’ve had to work hard since day one and that’s what we’ve been doing since the beginning of the season.

“Now we’re just collecting the fruits that we planted before, and it’s just another game next week, and then another one and another one until the end of the season. So we don’t stop!”

By Sean Gillen

@SeanGillen9

Comments (1)

Eddie

about 1 month ago
#14760

This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site

Really happy for him! Joao Felipe Jota is a fantastic player! He is such a talent and sorta underrated in my opinion. Im a big fan of him and I think he deserves a move to a top four league. Me being a Jose Mourinho fan and following Roma, I actually would love it if he comes to Roma. Although thats not really one of their priority positions needing reinforcement, but I personally would love to see him there.

Either way in any top four league in a good team he will shine. I want him to make the senior Portugal team too. Apart from Leao we lack some wingers who can truly beat players one v one with skill and assist well, which is what traditional wingers should do, and as a plus he can also score. His stats are great as well this season in the league and cup.

Neto was a guy who used to bring that similar play Im talking about to the team but since his knee injury he never really came back to his best sadly.

But Joao Felipe Jota is that guy who can fill that same role in my opinion. Hope he keeps up his performances and gets the credit and recognition he deserves.

Eddie