Celtic midfielder Matt O’Riley has opened up about a rare display of anger from manager Brendan Rodgers, following the team’s recent match against St Johnstone.
Rodgers, known for his typically composed demeanour, expressed an unusual level of frustration after the match, which O’Riley admits he had not witnessed before in his time at Celtic.
Speaking to The Herald, O’Riley recounted the incident that followed the team’s performance in the first half at McDiarmid Park. Rodgers, who later shared with the press that it was the angriest he had ever been in his managerial career, conveyed a strong message to the players during the half-time interval.
O’Riley acknowledged that the team’s lack of intensity in the first half warranted Rodgers’ reaction at halftime. He said:
“Have I seen it before from the manager? Not to that extent. But I don’t think our intensity has been that low before, so it was warranted.
“That was his message after the game – ‘I hope I don’t have to get to that level of anger at half-time again’.
“I think the reaction showed the level we can play at and should be at regularly. Hopefully, it’s a wake-up call going forward.
“I think we are in a good place. He’s quite a calm guy in general. He doesn’t like to get angry unless he has to.
“He’s been around long enough to know when to go a bit harder or when to soften up. It was the right call.”
What the manager said at the break obviously worked, with Celtic upping their game in the second half and scoring three goals to ensure the win.
