Celtic’s emphatic 5-0 victory over Dundee United at Tannadice will be remembered for a few different reasons. On the one hand, it was a commanding performance that helped seal Celtic’s fourth consecutive Scottish Premiership title, affirming their place as the dominant force in Scottish football. The attacking prowess they displayed in dismantling Dundee United was a joy to watch, with Adam Idah and Nicolas Kuhn each scoring a brace, while Ryan Strain’s own goal only added to the humiliation for the Taysiders. For Celtic, it was the kind of result they’ve become accustomed to in recent years—clinical, powerful, and efficient.

However, for all the brilliance displayed on the pitch that day, the joy of securing yet another league title was tainted by an injury to one of Celtic’s brightest stars. Jota, the Portuguese winger who has been a fan favorite since his emotional return to Celtic in January, suffered a painful injury in the first half, leaving the field in obvious distress. The sight of Jota, who had been so influential in Celtic’s attack, being carried off the pitch was a gut-wrenching moment for fans and players alike. It was a stark reminder that, in football, victory and celebration often come with the potential for unforeseen setbacks.

Jota’s role in Celtic’s success since his return has been nothing short of transformative. After being loaned out to the club in the 2021-2022 season, he quickly became one of the key figures in Celtic’s title-winning campaign under Ange Postecoglou. His dazzling dribbling, creativity, and knack for scoring crucial goals made him an instant hit with the Celtic faithful. His flair and ability to unlock defences made him a consistent threat on the wing, and he formed a devastating partnership with Kyogo Furuhashi and Daizen Maeda in the attacking third.

But in January, Celtic made the decision to bring Jota back to the club permanently, with Rennes agreeing to let him return to Glasgow in a deal that saw Kyogo Furuhashi go in the opposite direction. The move was emotional, both for Jota and for the fans who had taken him to their hearts during his first stint. It was as if the script had been written for him: Jota’s return to Celtic Park was greeted with warmth and celebration, and the winger wasted no time in reminding everyone why he had been such an important part of their success.

His impact since returning in January has been immediate and profound. Jota has scored key goals in crucial matches, including a stunning effort against Motherwell in which he was visibly emotional after scoring. It was clear that the Portuguese winger’s return was not just about his skill on the pitch, but about the personal connection he had with the club and its fans. For Celtic, his contributions were invaluable: his creativity and technical ability on the ball made him one of the most dangerous wingers in the league. Whether it was scoring goals, providing assists, or simply creating space for his teammates with his dribbling, Jota was an essential cog in Brendan Rodgers’ attacking machine. His presence on the pitch gave Celtic an edge that few teams in Scotland could match.

Now, with the injury that has left Jota sidelined, Celtic face the daunting prospect of trying to navigate the business end of the season without one of their most important players. According to reports from The Scottish Sun, Jota’s injury could keep him out for several months, with the winger potentially missing the start of next season. The nature of the injury seems serious, and despite initial hopes from Rodgers and the Celtic medical team that the news would be more positive, it now looks like the club will have to make do without Jota for an extended period.

This has left Celtic fans and the management team in a difficult position. While the win over Dundee United secured the title, the prospect of playing in some of the most critical matches of the season without Jota is far from ideal. The final Glasgow Derby of the season is always a fiercely contested battle, one that could have a major impact on Celtic’s confidence heading into the final stretch. Jota’s ability to influence big games with his creativity and technical skill would have been crucial in such a high-stakes match, but now Rodgers will have to find a way to get through these contests without him. Likewise, the Scottish Cup final is another major hurdle for Celtic, and losing Jota for these matches could make their journey to the cup a much more difficult one.

Rodgers will now be forced to explore his options in terms of personnel and tactics. Celtic are certainly not short on quality players, and they have the depth to cope with the absence of Jota, but finding a direct replacement for him will be challenging. Liel Abada, Jota’s fellow winger, is the most obvious option to step up. Abada has shown flashes of brilliance this season, and he possesses similar qualities to Jota in terms of his pace, technical ability, and goal-scoring threat. However, he has not yet demonstrated the same level of consistency that Jota has this season, and the pressure will be on him to deliver in the Portuguese winger’s absence.

Rodgers could also look to tweak his tactics in order to compensate for Jota’s absence. Celtic have options in attack, but they will need to adjust their approach to make up for the loss of his flair and creativity. The manager might look to shift more responsibility onto central attacking players like Kyogo and Maeda, or he could decide to adopt a more direct style of play, leaning on Celtic’s strong midfield and forward depth to create chances in a different way. Rodgers has experience in navigating such challenges, but how effectively he can adapt will be crucial to Celtic’s success in the coming weeks.

The silver lining in all of this is that Jota’s contract runs until 2030, ensuring that he remains a key part of Celtic’s future for many years to come. While his absence may feel like a setback in the short term, Celtic fans can take comfort in knowing that Jota is contracted to the club long-term. His future at Celtic is secure, and when he returns from injury, fans will once again have the opportunity to enjoy his exciting style of play for seasons to come. For now, however, it’s a waiting game, with the hope that Jota makes a swift and full recovery.

In conclusion, while Celtic’s title victory over Dundee United was a moment to savour, it is overshadowed by the unfortunate injury to Jota, one of their most influential players. The loss of such a key figure will undoubtedly pose challenges for Brendan Rodgers as he attempts to steer the team through the final matches of the season, but if Celtic’s recent history is anything to go by, they have the quality and depth to rise to the occasion. With a combination of tactical flexibility and individual brilliance from the likes of Kyogo and Abada, Celtic will need to show their resilience and adaptability in the face of this setback. For now, all that’s left is to hope for a speedy recovery for Jota and trust that Celtic’s collective strength will carry them through the remainder of the season.