Celtic’s 5-0 victory over Dundee United at Tannadice in April 2025 should have been remembered solely as a day of celebration.
Brendan Rodgers’ team had secured another Scottish league title in emphatic fashion, making the result even more memorable for the travelling supporters.
For Jota, however, the afternoon marked the beginning of an 18-month ordeal. The Portuguese winger suffered a knee injury and left the pitch unaware that the setback would lead to the most difficult period of his career.
Jota has since admitted that he initially underestimated the seriousness of the problem and did not immediately contemplate the lengthy recovery that lay ahead.
“I knew something had happened, but thinking about the worst possible scenario doesn’t help you,” Jota said as he recalled the painful chapter of his injury battle.
“I was waiting to see what the examinations showed. I didn’t want to assume the worst. But, obviously, it ended up keeping me out for a long time.”
Jota came off the bench and showcased flashes of his old brilliance during Celtic’s 7-1 demolition of Hearts on Sunday
As last season progressed, Jota sometimes appeared to have slipped from view at Celtic. Hints of a possible return were followed by fresh setbacks, prompting some to wonder whether the winger would ever play again.
Jota, though, remained convinced that he would eventually make his way back. The wait was made even more frustrating by Celtic’s struggles on the pitch throughout much of the campaign.
Rodgers eventually departed in bitter circumstances, while the troubled spell under Wilfried Nancy left Celtic in an even more difficult position. Unable to contribute on the field, Jota depended on his family and team-mates for the encouragement he needed during the darkest days.
The breakthrough came just over a month ago, when Jota was finally cleared to resume full training. He returned as a substitute in Celtic’s win over Motherwell just over a week ago, then made an earlier impact by entering at half-time during Sunday’s emphatic 7-1 victory against Hearts.
Within hours, clips of the winger spread across social media, showing Jota rediscovering his trademark flair as he used clever dummies, feints and close control to leave Hearts defenders struggling to cope.
He is not yet suggesting that he has returned to his peak, but the display offered the strongest reminder so far that Jota remains one of the most naturally gifted players in Scottish football.
Reflecting on the mental challenge of spending so long on the sidelines, Jota described the experience as an emotional rollercoaster.
“It’s like a rollercoaster of emotions. I could speak for two weeks about everything that was going through my mind,” he said.
“In the end, it’s part of life because everyone faces struggles. But in our profession, being unable to play the sport you love most is incredibly difficult.
“You can feel empty. The hardest thing is feeling that a part of you has disappeared, without knowing when it will return.”
The Celtic winger ended his long absence when he returned during the recent victory over Motherwell at Fir Park
Jota also stressed that perspective had helped him through the ordeal, reminding himself that many people face problems far more serious than his own.
“I’m grateful — and I feel privileged — to be part of such a wonderful sport and to have experienced all of this. Being able to play against Hearts and return to Celtic Park shows that all the struggle was worth it. These moments are unique, and they matter.”
‘There’s moments where you feel like you’re down and you cannot see any light, but that doesn’t mean that you stop believing.
‘It’s very painful when you cannot help the team (like during last season). You want to be there and help them but you can’t and you don’t know when you will be again.
‘I think I’ve met some demons and I’ve had some good talks with them. I think we developed a good relationship and we are all on the same page now and we can laugh about everything that happened.
‘I think if you don’t grow from a situation like this, it’s because you didn’t learn anything. Now I can see things clearer.
‘In the recovery process, it’s not always a clear trajectory. It’s not a perfect line. Like it’s not every day we’ll get better.
‘Maybe you get better, then you go down again, but then you go up again and you’re already better than what you were before.
‘So it’s just like a mountain where you keep on building and then eventually you reach the peak.
‘My aim was always that I want to come back fit. Whatever time I need to take, because I still have a long career in front of me and I’m still young. So there’s no rush, let’s do everything correctly and just trust the process.’
Given that he is not registered in the Europa League squad, Jota will be unable to play in Thursday night’s clash with Celta Vigo at Parkhead.
Having lost both of their opening fixtures, Martin O’Neill has admitted that it will be a must-win against the Spaniards if Celtic are to have any hopes of progressing to the knockout stages.
Jota leaves the field on crutches after a victory at Tannadice clinched the title 18 months ago
But Jota could feature against Hibs at Easter Road on Sunday as he continues to build his way up to full match fitness once again.
He thanked O’Neill for the patience and support shown during his long lay-off and is confident he will eventually recapture his best form but insists his injury ordeal has proven that nothing can ever be taken for granted in football.
‘I have had a couple of talks with the manager,’ added the Portuguese winger. ‘I think he was just giving me the time to be healthy and I value that because maybe in another place I wouldn’t have that possibility.
‘And here they gave me the possibility to return fit, healthy and clear-minded. I feel ready to go again, but obviously there are metrics and stuff we need to be careful with (in terms of starting games too soon).
‘I didn’t play in a long time. Now I just want to enjoy every single second on the pitch. You learn to really value it, maybe more than before.
‘It teaches you never to take anything for granted. That’s a big thing you learn when you go through something like this.’
