Jota: It was amazing to share this special moment with the Celtic fans | OneFootball

It was a fairytale start to a dream return to Celtic for Jota as he scored on his first game back for the club, setting the seal on a 3-1 win against Motherwell.

Brendan Rodgers’ side dominated the game at Fir Park, with Daizen Maeda giving the Hoops the lead inside the first minute of the match.

Adam Idah restored Celtic’s lead after Luke Armstrong equalised, and in the second-half Celtic had two goals disallowed for offside as they dominated proceedings.

And they sealed another three points when Jota scored in the last minute of added time.

The 25-year-old returned to Paradise earlier this week, joining on a five-and-a-half-year deal from French side, Rennes.

And having scored 28 goals in 83 appearances for Celtic in his previous spell with the club, the Portuguese winger got off the mark straight away.

Clearly delighted and emotional at having scored, Jota spoke to Celtic TV after the game.

“It’s such an amazing moment for me and I couldn’t have written it better,” he said.

“In the end, it’s just a matter of believing and from when I came on I always believed that a ball would be given to me and that happened in the end.

“It was just a very personal moment and I wanted to share that with the Celtic fans, and it was just like remembering the old times.

“I think I’ll still need time to get back fit to the best that I can. It will take time, obviously, but I’m here to work hard every day in order to achieve that.

“Today was a really good start but football always keeps going and tomorrow is another day, and I need to be focused again.

“It’s better to just think day by day and enjoy that for as long as we can.

"We know that important things will come in the future but it’s just about living life to the fullest today and enjoy this moment with the Celtic fans and my family, and tomorrow we go again at Lennoxtown.”

Fixtures

Motherwell Vs. Celtic - Sun, Feb 2nd 2025, 15:00 Final score: 1 - 3 Match Report