Celtic ace Jota insists the Hoops squad are hungry for silverware after setting up a crack at the Premier Sports Cup.
Rangers fans are up in arms at comments made by Connor Goldson after the Ibrox side crashed to defeat in the other semi-final against Hibs.
The centre back questioned the desire of the squad and pointed to a lack of hunger.
But Jota ignored the Light Blues uproar and insisted there are no such problems at Parkhead as Ange Postecoglou’s men are determined to compete on all fronts.
The 22-year-old – who was named cinch Premiership player of the month for October – said: “Of course. To play for Celtic you must be hungry. That’s what we are looking for. We want to win every game, every competition, game by game.
“We will stick to our process, which is what we are doing.”
Jota is thrilled Celts have set up a Final against Hibs next month and he’s determined to fight it out for the Premiership title.
But his immediate aim is to keep the club’s Europa League dream alive in Germany this week as they clash with Bundesliga big guns Bayer Leverkusen.
Celts are likely to need something from the game to stay in the hunt for a spot in the knockout stages but Jota is convinced the Hoops have what it takes to grab all three points.
He said: “You need to win every game. Playing for Celtic that is a must. We don’t go out to draw or to lose.
“That’s just not in our perspective. We will fight for the victory in every single game.
“Can we take heart from the first game when we scored three goals away against Real Betis? Yes, we will fight for the result, we will work for the result.
“That is what we are looking to do.”
Jota has trained his sights on the Germans and he insisted he’s not looking down the line towards next summer.
Celtic are hoping to turn the borrowed Benfica star’s deal in to a permanent move by meeting the Portuguese outfit’s £6.5m buyout clause.
There could be a scramble for his services after an impressive start to his spell in Scotland and Jota has put any transfer talk to the back of his mind.
He said: “I am not thinking what is going to happen next week or next month or next year.
“Just let me enjoy football and be happy.
“I am definitely very happy with how things are going in this first stage of the season. Now I want to keep on going and do the best that I can and learn as much as I can. Is there more to come from me?
“Yes, for sure. I don’t want to stop here. My aim and my goals are very high. I want to work a lot to help the team and to achieve my objectives.
“I think right now I am enjoying my football. Let me enjoy my football because it’s been great and whatever has to happen will happen in the right time.
“Right now, I just want to play and learn as much as I can from my teammates and my coach and be happy.”
Meanwhile Celtic are hoping to avoid a defensive headache for Thursday over Stephen Welsh and Carl Starfelt.
Youngster Welsh was forced off at Hampden after taking an elbow in the head from Saints wing back Shaun Rooney – but it’s understood the centre back didn’t suffer from concussion and could be fit to face Leverkusen.
Starfelt has returned to training after more than a month out and is in the running to be involved, along with midfielder Tom Rogic, who has also been missing in recent weeks.
