Celtic midfielder Matt O’Riley has had a strong season under Brendan Rodgers, producing many excellent moments along the way.
After establishing himself under Ange Postecoglou, O’Riley proved to be a valuable member of the team during his second spell at Parkhead.
Since then, the 23-year-old has reached new heights on the pitch, scoring 14 goals and providing 16 assists in 43 appearances across all competitions this season [Transfermarkt].
In the Scottish Premiership, the Denmark international averages 2.8 shots per game, with 1.4 of them hitting the target. He also creates 12 big chances, demonstrating his ability to create and convert opportunities at will (Sofascore).
With Celtic four games away from the end of the league season, O’Riley is expected to be a key player in our pursuit of a third consecutive title before his future is decided in the summer.
In January, the London-born man was subject to a failed bid from La Liga giants Atletico Madrid. Rodgers confirmed that he would stay in Glasgow for the remainder of 2023/24 season.
Undoubtedly, speculation surrounding your next move is bound to impact one’s mental state, though O’Riley has since made an admission on how he dealt with the unique set of circumstances.
Matt O’Riley on shutting out Celtic exit rumours
Once the summer transfer window opens, it would be hard to envisage O’Riley not being an attractive prospect for several elite clubs, especially if he is selected for the Denmark squad for EURO 2024.
Either way, his only focus for now will be to ensure he can finish the campaign with two pieces of silverware under his belt, which would only serve to enlarge his stock on the market.
Speaking to Sky Sports Scotland after being nominated for the PFA Scotland Scottish Premiership Player of the Year award, O’Riley gave an insight into how he blocked out the noise in January, claiming that he even banned his parents from speaking about interest from elsewhere when asked about his situation.
He said, “Yes, I need to be fair. I’ve told my parents, agents, and even people at the club. People naturally want to talk about such topics, but I believe it is a major distraction while I am working here.
“It was mostly a matter of where my attention was, to be honest. When there is noise, if your attention is drawn to it, it will naturally be in the back of your mind while you are on the pitch.
“I addressed that and spoke to one of the coaches I work with outside of football, and we really just focused on coming back to basics, and it helped a lot.”
Matt O’Riley has managed pressure admirably at Celtic.
O’Riley has handled pressure well, scoring in the Scottish Cup semi-final against Aberdeen and the Glasgow Derby against Rangers.
Admittedly, he hasn’t been the star of every game he’s played since the turn of the year, but his determination to make an impact defensively has been another important aspect of his contributions.
Celtic are fortunate to have a player with O’Riley’s talent and adaptability, and we will enjoy his presence for the remainder of the season, which will hopefully help us complete a domestic double.
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