Celtic TV Exclusive: Jota ready for return to the Glasgow derby | OneFootball

As the anticipation builds for the latest chapter in the Glasgow derby, Jota has spoken about his excitement to be back in the Hoops and the special atmosphere that surrounds the fixture.

The Portuguese forward, who has quickly settled back into life at Celtic Park, is relishing the opportunity to play in the Glasgow derby once again after his superb impact in his first spell.

Speaking exclusively to Celtic TV ahead of the match, he shared his delight at returning to the club and reuniting with his team-mates.

“I’m feeling very good,” Jota said. “It has been an amazing time with the lads and just getting back together to see some familiar faces.

Jota has also been enjoying life under Brendan Rodgers, who has set high expectations for his players while fostering a strong sense of unity within the squad.

“Brendan is someone that gives us a lot of confidence, but a lot of responsibility as well,” the Portuguese winger explained.

“He demands a lot from us because he knows that we are capable of it. The standards are quite high.

"I really like the way we train, the way we play and then, as a group, we are all very together and we fight for the same thing. So, I think the connection between the coach and the players has been really nice.”

With the intensity of the Glasgow derby looming, Jota reflected on what makes the fixture so special and why it remains one of the defining experiences of any footballer’s career.

“I always tend to say this, for people to realise what this game is about, they need to be here,” he said.

“For the players to have the opportunity to actually be involved in this game means something different. It’s a very special feeling.

"It's something that every player should feel once in their lifetime. For me, I’ve had the opportunity to play a lot of them and I want to play many more. So, I’m just excited about it.

“The atmosphere is the first thing that comes to my mind.

“I would say the feeling of Champions League is something different, but right next to it is the game against Rangers. You can feel it's different. There's this sense in the air that today is the derby and today we go for it.”

You can watch the full interview with Jota now by subscribing to Celtic TV, as well as the full match live if you are outside the UK and Ireland.

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Fixtures

Celtic Vs. Rangers - Sun, Mar 16th 2025, 12:30