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“He’s never satisfied, “I remember him talking about his desire to make the leap to a more competitive league and eventually make it to international football”- Pedro Matos named the Notthingham Forest favourite player he played with that’s never satisfied
Jota Silva has been tipped to improve even further now that he has secured a regular spot in Nottingham Forest’s starting lineup.
The attacker has shown remarkable patience since his summer move from Vitoria Guimaraes. After making 11 substitute appearances, he was finally handed his first Premier League start against Ipswich Town last month.
The 25-year-old has kept his place in the team since then, featuring in two crucial games against Manchester’s top clubs last week. Although Forest lost 3-0 to City at the Etihad Stadium last Wednesday, they bounced back with a 3-2 victory over United at Old Trafford.
Jota made an impression with his exuberant celebrations after his team’s goals last Saturday. According to one of his former teammates, such moments are characteristic of the Portuguese player.
Pedro Matos, who played alongside Jota early in his career at Sousense during the 2018/19 season, is confident that the best is yet to come for Jota as his confidence continues to grow.
“I always believed in Jota’s talent, but the truth is, the path to the Premier League is very challenging,” Matos said. “However, Jota has always shown dedication and a strong work ethic that made him capable of achieving great things. His determination and ability to handle adversity convinced me he could reach this level. Now that he’s in the Premier League, I’m delighted for him, and I believe there’s much more to come. Jota is never satisfied and is always seeking new challenges, so I’m sure he will keep pushing for more.”
“I’m proud of Jota’s success. Even when we played together at Sousense, his talent and commitment to the game were clear. He’s always been a very focused player, eager to improve and progress. The win against United reflects the hard work and quality he’s always shown, and I’m not surprised to see him thriving in the Premier League. He’s a perfect example of how persistence and dedication can lead to success.”
Jota’s journey to the City Ground has been full of challenges. He worked his way up the football ranks in Portugal, including two stints at fifth-division club Sousense, and has often spoken about his dream of playing in the Premier League.
“Jota has always had a positive and ambitious mindset,” Matos recalled. “I remember him talking about his desire to play in a more competitive league and eventually represent his country internationally. It was always going to be a difficult path, but he remained focused on his goal. He had a plan for the future and worked hard every day to make it happen.”
“At Sousense, work ethic was key. Despite being a small club, there was a strong commitment that every training session and every match was an opportunity to improve. Jota, for example, was one of the standout players in this regard.”
“Whether it was a practice session or a game, he always gave his best. He never settled for the minimum; he was always striving to grow and help the team succeed. Sousense instilled a winning mentality in many players, including Jota, by emphasizing discipline, humility, and the drive to learn.”
“Although the facilities at Sousense were modest, the environment was excellent. It’s a family-oriented club with a small but solid structure. The most important thing was the passion and dedication of the players, and Jota fit right in with that atmosphere. While we didn’t have the resources of Premier League clubs, there was a strong sense of unity and a shared willingness to work hard.”
