What Jota loves about working with Brendan Rodgers and what makes Celtic vs Rangers derby so special

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Jota has been on the outside looking in at Celtic over the past 18 months.

The superstar from Portugal was brilliant before he moved to Al-Ittihad for £25million where it ultimately failed to work out. He would make a stunning Celtic return via Rennes and now he considers himself to be home.

Brendan Rodgers arrived while Jota had been away but now the 25-year-old has embedded himself in the first-team again in the exact way his manager wants his squad to play week-in, week-out.

It is that structure and responsibility that Jota likes about working with the Irishman and he hopes he can continue to reach the high standards his boss has in place.

Jota on what working with Brendan Rodgers at Celtic is like

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

Jota has a fine record against Rangers who are this weekend’s opponents in the Glasgow derby and he’s excited to test himself against them once again.

Four goals and an assist in 10 matches vs the Light Blues is a significant history for the playmaker but he wants to make more.

Jota says every player should strive to play in Celtic vs Rangers derby at least once

He knows the derby is one of the world’s biggest and tastiest and Jota explained how honoured he is and has been to feature in this fixture. Now it’s about winning again to go 19 clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership.

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

“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.”