Brendan Rodgers addresses huge Jota call ahead of Bayern v Celtic

The Portuguese winger has bagged two goals and an assist in five games since returning to the Hoops last month from Ligue 1 side Rennes.

 

Alongside fellow January signing Jeffrey Schlupp, the 25-year-old has been added to Celtic’s Champions League squad and both featured off the bench in last week’s 2-1 defeat to Bayern in the first leg at Parkhead.

Asked whether Jota is fit enough to start at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday night, the Celtic manager said: “Yeah, yeah. If we decide that’s what we need to do, he can start the game.

 

“There’s no doubt he’s working his way back to his highest level physically in terms of how I want the team to press. But there’s no doubt he can look after the ball.

 

“And in arenas like this here, you need players that can take the ball and look after it. So he’s a wonderful player. I’ve seen the talent in close-up.

 

“I’ve seen him in games. And there’s just a bit more when he’s back to that highest level. And if I need him to start, he’s ready to start.”

Victory in Munich will be no mean feat – Celtic have never won on German soil – but Rodgers insists “anything is possible” and has urged his players go and play without fear.

 

He said: “There’s no second chance after tomorrow night. We’ve got one opportunity. We’ve got to be clever, we’ve got to be bright, we’ve got to be brave in the game.

 

“And if we can do that, we’ve shown in history, shown in sport, that as I said, anything can happen – so that’s what we focus on.”