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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Graeme McGarry

Jota on trying to 'drink from the wisdom' of Celtic stalwart James Forrest

James Forrest, as a Celtic servant of over 15 years now, would have every right to feel a little irked that he doesn’t have a specific song that the fans sing in his honour, while fellow winger Jota had one when he was barely in the door.

Not only that, it was then recorded by a professional artist and became something of a smash hit.

Envy isn’t really in Forrest’s make-up though. Besides, his own personal hit parade at Celtic is more than enough to comfort him.

It has been well documented that the 33-year-old will become the club’s most decorated player when Celtic clinch the league title, moving ahead of Bobby Lennox on 26 major honours.

(Image: Andrew Milligan - PA) Forrest himself doesn’t like to shout about the achievement too much, but Jota is more than happy to sing the praises of a man who is still making it difficult for young bucks like himself to get into Brendan Rodgers’ starting XI, even at this advanced stage of his career.

“Come on, he's not that old, 33 is the new 22!” Jota said.

“Don't do him like that. But yeah, credit to him, James has had an unbelievable career and we're just all grateful to him on the pitch and on the team.

“[His medal collection] speaks for itself. I think there's not one single person in the locker room that doesn't love James, as a person and a football player, so we just try to drink from his wisdom and to learn from him and just be a part of his journey.”


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That journey has taken Forrest from the scrawny teen who bagged a debut goal off the bench against Motherwell way back in 2010 to becoming one of the main leaders in the Celtic dressing room, and in his second spell at the club, Jota is trying to follow his example.

“I think there's a lot of good personalities in the club and everyone tries to transmit to us what the values of Celtic are,” he said.

“And yeah, James was no different from that, you can learn a lot from him and I'm just grateful that I'm doing this with him.

“I think being here for the first time and having lived what I lived, it was really good, and I think the core group was still here when I came back.

“I still try to learn from them but whoever comes new, I just try to help them and just perform with them, because in the end, it's about all being together and giving the best for Celtic.”

There is a widespread view that Jota, while still contributing to the team, isn’t quite yet at his scintillating best since returning to Glasgow in January as he works his way back to full match fitness.

He is edging ever closer though, he says, with his goal off the bench against St Johnstone in Sunday’s Scottish Cup semi-final rout at Hampden his fifth in just 15 appearances.

“I always think that you should always give the best and whatever needs to happen will happen naturally, so there's no pressure on that,” he said.

“There's the responsibility of being better every day, and that's where my aim is.

“I'm feeling very good. I think I needed time to develop my physical ability because it was a long time without playing, but now I'm feeling very good and ready to go stronger.

(Image: Andrew Milligan - PA) “I think it was a good performance from the team [on Sunday] and when I got my opportunity, I was there in the right spot, and credit to Alistair (Johnston) because he did an unbelievable job.

“There's no point to prove here. I’m just enjoying the game, being happy on the pitch.

“Every day is a new opportunity to be better and to be happier, so that's what I'm doing.”

Jota was one of the poster boys of the Ange Postecoglou era at Celtic, but he is also loving life under his new manager, Brendan Rodgers, and thinks that he is a good fit for the system and style that he has implemented since his own return to the club.

“I'm really enjoying it, I think he brings a good philosophy to the team,” he said.

“I think the structure of Celtic is very well made, so then it's just a matter of details and I think he has done a very good job on putting the team together, developing his ideas and we are having a good time.”

That is rather understating their current position, with Celtic about to wrap up another league title and, potentially, another treble over the coming weeks.

Taking another leaf from teammate Forrest’s book though, Jota prefers not to speak too much about his medals, particularly when they aren’t yet draped safely around his neck. Besides, when asked if it was the chance to win such honours that convinced him to come back to Celtic, he stressed that there was so much more to it.

“I wouldn't say so,” he said.

“I think that obviously helps, but every little moment is important for me and I'm just grateful for living this at the moment. 

“Obviously, then this is the cherry on top of the cake, but the job is not done yet.”

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