Alexandro Bernabei lashing high into the Ross County was more than just the left-back’s first Celtic goal – it was another fearsome reminder that, even short of full capacity, this team are simply too strong for the rest.
By their own lofty standards, it was not a vintage display from Ange Postecoglou’s champions-elect, but they are so far ahead these days that it does not always need to be. A hotly-contested penalty from Jota set them on their way before Bernabei strode forward to find the top corner in stoppage time.
The Argentine stepped in to deputise for the injured Greg Taylor, and made sure the loss of a key player was felt only minimally. Neither Reo Hatate nor Aaron Mooy were present in Dingwall, but ultimately it mattered not a jot given the depth of options Postecoglou has amassed with some stellar recruitment.
Jota was pleased to see Bernabei get off the mark, and believes it’s a sign that there’s really no such thing as a weakened Celtic team at present.
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“It was his first one?” the winger smiled. “Alexandro is a very nice guy. He just moved from a totally different background. Football in Argentina is completely different from the football here. I think he deserved his first goal for a long time. Yeah, I was just so happy for him.
“This shows how good our group of players is and how ready they are to deliver our performances. We always train very hard at Lennoxtown and any time there is an opportunity we are ready for it. That is why when there is a sub or whatever they always deliver. They have good numbers as well. As long as the level stays the same for the 90 minutes I think we will do very good.”
It is the players who continue to deliver on the pitch, week after week, but Jota was keen to stress that their staggering consistency – it is now 28 wins from 29 Premiership outings – is a collective effort from all involved in the first-team setup.
“It is our love for football and the way the structure is,” he said. “All of the staff have made a very good base and foundation for us to feel at home. They have understood from day one that there is a system and formation here.
“They are very good on this. We want you to do this. It gives us freedom to play our type of game within the tactics and rules and formation. Then it is up to us in the dressing room to make everyone feel welcome. We know that once everyone is happy and performing then we will be closer to our goals.”
In Mooy’s absence, Jota took the penalty that left Ross County manager Malky Mackay utterly dismayed, with Alex Iacovitti penalised for handball in the box after a VAR intervention. The chance was gratefully snapped up by the Portuguese, who was a picture of calm from 12 yards.
He drilled the ball down the middle with supreme confidence to set a course for another crucial three points to take back to Glasgow.. Jota says he is more than happy to continue stepping up for spot-kicks when it is required of him, referencing his days in the Benfica academy as a source of confidence.
“Yeah, it is instinct, it is the emotion in the moment,” he said. “I am just happy that the ball went in.
“I just try to be in the zone. I try to breathe as much as I can, to be in my environment, to be in my space. Once I have to go and deliver it is just like focus, go, do your job and that’s it. It is a mindfulness moment.”
“In my youth in Benfica I took penalties before. Everyone just does whatever he feels most comfortable with. I am just grateful to the staff to give me that chance of scoring the penalty.
“Aaron Mooy was scoring very good penalties as well. I think everyone will just be ready for the moment. In the end it was good that I could help the team and we delivered the result.”
Celtic now stride on to a derby meeting with Rangers on Saturday, one that could move them a step closer to the second consecutive title that has already felt inevitable for some time. What has been most impressive about their relentless march to the finish line is the complete lack of complacency, or even the merest suggestion of easing up with such a commanding nine-point advantage over their city rivals. Should they stretch that lead to 12 this weekend, it would be rather safe to stick those green and white ribbons on the trophy once more.
“We have our aims and our goals since the beginning of the season and we know that it is not going to come like in one day. You need to build a good foundation and we have been doing that since the beginning of the season.
“Now we know we are reaching the end of the run. So that is a time to be focused. But I think sometimes people think too much about the end of the season. We have been doing this since the beginning. That is the key for our team. There is no moment when we go down or start to think about other stuff that is irrelevant. Yeah, we just keep on doing our thing.”
