Celtic’s consistency down to solid foundation, insists Jota

Jota believes Celtic’s ability to keep their focus on the next game is the key to their remarkable domestic consistency.

The Hoops have won 28 of their last 29 matches in Scotland, including each of their previous 15 games.

Jota insists he pays no attention to the stats and that he and his team-mates will not allow themselves to be derailed by looking too far into the future as they bid to add cinch Premiership and Scottish Cup glory to their recent Viaplay Cup triumph.

“To be honest, I didn’t even know the numbers,” he said of Celtic’s impressive stats. “I don’t know if some of my team-mates know.

“I just think day by day and game by game. We always go into the games to deliver good results, to win, to deliver good performances for the fans and for the staff. That is what we want to do. We just want to do that until the end of the season.

“We have our aims and our goals since the beginning of the season and we know that it is not going to come 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.”

Celtic’s momentum has been aided by the January arrivals of Alistair Johnston, Tomoki Iwata, Hyeongyu Oh and Yuki Kobayashi, and Jota feels the Hoops’ ability to integrate new players into their squad has been key to their success under Ange Postecoglou.

They are currently nine points clear at the top of the table ahead of Saturday’s Glasgow derby at home to nearest rivals Rangers.

“It is our love for football and the way the structure is,” said Portuguese winger Jota, when asked how new players can slot in so well after Japanese midfielder Iwata made an impressive first start in Sunday’s 2-0 win at Ross County.

“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.

“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.”