Celtic’s 22-year-old midfielder, Matt O’Riley, has been in sparkling form this season, consistently finding the back of the net. In the pre-match Kilmarnock press conference, the Danish Under-21 international shed light on his scoring run, his experiences under the current manager, and the importance of a winning mentality.
The former Fulham academy player attributes his recent goal-scoring success to a combination of factors, including a slight shift in the team’s playing style and his own mental state: “I don’t think anything’s changed massively to be honest,” he told Celtic Youtube.
“Maybe I feel slightly better from my mental perspective, which always helps. We’ve got a slightly new style, maybe my role’s changed slightly, but nothing too crazy. I think we’ve just got into the right positions and stayed pretty calm.”
The treble-winning Celtic star also spoke highly of the manager’s style of management, which he believes has been instrumental in his development. “It’s been good,” O’Riley said. “If there’s something that I need to work on or needs to be addressed, he’ll pick me up on it and we’ll go through it, especially on the training pitch.
“He’s good with most players in terms of dealing with them from a personal perspective, which helps on the pitch as well.”
When asked about his preference for managerial style, the young midfielder revealed that he doesn’t have a specific preference. “I wouldn’t say I have a preference,” he said. “There are so many different styles of management in football, and if they’re successful, it doesn’t bother me. I like working with managers who can get the best out of me, however that is.”
O’Riley, who was signed by former boss Ange Postecoglou, also touched on his development and future potential, expressing his desire to continue improving. “I’ve been fortunate enough so far in my career to have had pretty good managers, and I do think I’m developing every season,” he said. “I’d always want to improve, and I’d always hope the team would want to improve as well. I think it should be an exciting season.”
The Celtic star, who has scored 2 goals and made 1 assist in the first two games of the season, also discussed the challenges of adapting to a new style and new players, emphasising the importance of being ready to adapt. “We’ve won the first two games, so we can’t say we’ve been bad,” he said.
“We’ve played some really good stuff, but it’s going to take time to really gel with new players coming in and a slightly different style. As a footballer, you need to be ready to adapt, but I think we’re in a good place right now.”
On his role in the team, O’Riley revealed that he has been given more freedom to get involved in the build-up play. “Tactically, it’s just slightly different within our midfield structure,” he said. “For me personally, I’m probably slightly more involved at times in the build-up aspect, with the license to get forward as well. I’ve got a little bit more freedom to go down and up, which I enjoy.”
The player also spoke about the importance of a winning mentality, both individually and as a team. “We know the demands and pressures of being at Celtic – every game, you have to win,” he said. “It’s about constantly wanting to improve both individually and as a team. We have to be relentless and focused, and I think it’s nice to be in that kind of environment.”
Finally, O’Riley opened up about his mindfulness practices, which he believes have been crucial in helping him stay focused on the pitch. “I’ve always been settled in Glasgow,” he said. “It’s more of a mindful thing when I’m on the pitch. If your head’s somewhere else or you’re thinking too much, you won’t be as focused. I’ve been working on it quite relentlessly off the pitch, whether it be meditation or other mindful practices. I try to constantly improve as a person and as a footballer.”
With his impressive form, strong work ethic, and commitment to self-improvement, Matt O’Riley is undoubtedly a player to watch this season. Celtic fans can look forward to more thrilling performances from the young midfielder as the season progresses. Brendan Rodgers may very well get the best out of the player who had a quieter campaign than he would’ve liked last season.
