IT is coming up on one year since Matt O’Riley first stepped through the doors at Celtic Park – and it’s fair to say the midfielder could not have predicted such a sharp upturn in his career.
The Denmark under-21 international had been playing his trade at League One side MK Dons before having his release clause met by Celtic in January earlier this year.
In the short-time in Glasgow, O’Riley has established himself as a key figure under Ange Postecoglou with it difficult to remember a Celtic midfield without the former Fulham man involved.
He's now a Scottish Premiership title winner and in serious contention for a Denmark full international call-up in the near future. But O’Riley is unable himself to put into words how his move has changed his career compared with any preconceived expectations or goals heading to Scotland.
“I didn’t really know where I was going to be, to be honest,” he said when quizzed on whether he’s ahead of schedule in his expectations.
“I know from past experiences that football can change for the better and for the worst.
“So, at first when I came here, it was a big thing. But now I feel very comfortable in the environment.
“For me myself, my game needs to improve consistently every day. Through my whole game. Not just goals and assists. Everything I do.
“Playing a bit deeper for a while has probably helped me do that in some aspects. When I first came, defensively, I was probably average to poor.
“Now I say I’m pretty decent in terms of the press and defensively, so it’s just about improving constantly with things all the time.”
O’Riley’s constant drive to improve is no small-part to his stunning year under Postecoglou at Celtic. The deep thinker still critiques his own performances with little time for sentimentality on his journey while there are still games to be played.
“I think so,” said O’Riley of being his own worst critic. “I think most players that want to improve would probably be their own biggest critics. Otherwise, you won’t improve. So I’d say so.
“I’ll reflect on games to see what I could have done better. Against Livingston, I definitely could have been better, but I think in general we could have been as a team a bit more fluid and more connected.”
For all the major landmark moments in a successful soon to be year at Celtic there is still one achievement O’Riley is striving to reach; an international debut. The midfielder was thought to be in contention for a spot in the World Cup squad, but missed out on making the trip to Qatar.
He said: “Initially, it was disappointing [not being here]. After that it was supporting Denmark. I obviously watched the Final and it was probably one of the best games I have ever watched.”
But the experience of watching his country again compete on the world stage with O’Riley determined to force his way into the senior international set-up.
Asked if watching Denmark only served to whet his appetite to make the squad, O’Riley emphatically responded: “Definitely. There’s a lot I need to improve upon and work on first to continue to, hopefully, raise my levels in each game. I need to start affecting the game more in the opposition box.
“I think I am creating enough chances, but to help the team, I should be scoring more and I hope that starts happening soon.”
Back on a club level, O’Riley has adopted the same approach as Postecoglou and was keen to shut down any complacency with regards to the nine-point lead and vastly superior goal difference over Rangers.
He said: “That’s irrelevant. Well it’s not irrelevant, but in the bigger picture, if you continue to not commit to what you are doing 100 per cent, then it will catch up on you.
“So it’s about consistency for all of us. Setting standards every day.”
