Everything Jota said to Celtic TV upon joining the club on a five-year deal from Benfica...

How are you feeling?

Well, I’m feeling great, it’s a tremendous step in my career. I’m really happy to have joined Celtic, and I just want to give some joy to the fans, to our team, and to conquer as many things as we can

Just to reflect on last season, you came to the club not knowing what to expect, the fact you have signed now permanently – the place, the club, the teammates, the fans must have made a real impression on you.

Well, it was a great experience last season, I already knew more or less how big Celtic was, but I think people only realise once you are inside the club and inside the structure and with the season that we had, with all the winnings all the trophies it was really good for everyone, and I just got to know the club in another perspective, and I just fell in love. So I think it’s a good time to be here and I just want to develop.

How much did you enjoy that trophy day at Celtic Park when you were conducting the crowd?

I think it was amazing, once we got to the celebrations, everyone just enters into a pure state of freedom and that’s what happens, so I just want that thing to happen a lot of times, to give the joy and happiness to our fans, and let’s work. We are here to work

I was going to ask if you had had a nice relaxing break, but we all know the answer to that we have been keeping track of your social media, so it’s getting down to work now for a huge season ahead.

Yeah, I think it was a good time out, I think everyone could rest their minds, see other things just to rest the body, because the season in here is really tough, there’s a lot of games, a lot of travels and we just need to get our minds and our bodies ready for that

The manager will be very focused on improving even on last season, with some huge Champions League nights coming up at Celtic Park, can Celtic get better this year?

The aim is for us to be better and better every week, that is something that player’s like, there is no point in staying at the same level always you want to develop, you want to be better, you want to achieve other things. In here, at the club we are ready for that, and we are getting ready for all the competitions ahead.

Talk to me about the Celtic supporters, they were desperate to hear the news that you have signed on at the club on a permanent basis. How much are you looking forward to meeting them again and performing in front of them?

Yeah, I think that I really miss Celtic fans and the Celtic Park atmosphere, even the away games I think are terrific every time we go away. It’s something that I was not expecting, and it really pushed me. I just want to go back to the pitch as soon as possible and to do our thing because we want to do better this year and we are going to do better this year.

How much are you looking forward to getting down to work on the training pitch?

The pre-season is always a very important time for us to prepare for what’s ahead because during the season we don’t have the time to be meticulous about all our tactics or whatever, so we need to work hard now because this will be the base until the end of the season, that’s what we are going to look for with two sessions a day, one session a day just working in the gym, getting the mind, getting the body ready for what’s coming