There are plenty of attributes that contribute to a title-winning team; rarely, though, is being nice one of them.
That's just one of the many quirks of Ange Postecoglou's Celtic side who are on course to collect a second consecutive league crown.
Spend just a few moments in the company of Matt O'Riley and you'll quickly be made aware of the importance of the bond between the Celtic players which has helped catapult them to a Viaplay Cup trophy, all-but-likely league triumph, and a Scottish Cup semi-final.
"It's quite unique," he said of the Celtic squad. "We have got a lot of different nationalities in our team. A blend of Japanese and the pure Scottish guys who keep it kind of...Scottish. It's a nice balance and everyone is genuinely nice people which helps massively."
A quick look over the Celtic line-up which raced into a four-goal lead over Kilmarnock on Sunday shows seven nationalities in the starting XI, with ten countries represented when subs including Aaron Mooy, Oh Hyeon-gyu and Rocco Vata are included.
Such a diverse changing room of course requires strong characters and leaders, but also genuine people desperate to succeed together - something O'Riley feels Celtic have in abundance alongside the undeniable talent and competition for places.
"I don't really find it challenging in that sense just because honestly they are all so nice," said O'Riley of playing in a dressing room equal parts the best in terms of atmosphere and most difficult to nail down a starting spot.
"There are no hard feelings if someone plays over you or not. We are still all going to chat and be friends. I don't think that hinders us, it's probably a benefit.
"The competition in my opinion always helps you play better. Last season for me personally I had that with Tom [Rogic] and to be able to compete but also have respect with someone like that definitely makes you naturally play better.
"I have got it this season with so many good midfield players. I think the higher level each one of us can play will continue to push other players."
Japanese duo Yuki Kobayashi and Tomoki Iwata were handed starts at Rugby Park and impressed despite limited minutes so far this season. For O'Riley the pair are just two more examples of excellent recruitment at Celtic.
He said: "It shows the depth of our squad - especially Yuki and Tomoki. They have come from another country, another culture and settled in really quickly.
"I think it helps that they are both just genuinely very nice people too. They've settled into our culture very easily.
"They are both really making an effort to speak English with us which definitely helps and you can see it out on the pitch they are enjoying themselves.
🗣️ "This is a performance of champions!" Celtic lead 4-0 through another goal from O'Riley! Watch live on Sky!📺 pic.twitter.com/uMKNO8lgT2
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) April 16, 2023
"Yuki probably hasn't played as much as he wants to but whenever he has been asked to play he has performed really well which shows the kind of guy he is."
Celtic smashed through the 100-goal mark with the 4-1 win at Rugby Park - with O'Riley netting a brace - however, it could have been even more had Kyogo Furuhashi finished from the penalty spot. Not that the striker was bothered as he beamed both before and after the spot-kick.
"He's probably the nicest man I've ever met, genuinely," said O'Riley of Kyogo. "It's not just on the pitch from what you see, he's genuinely the nicest man I've ever met. That guy could miss four open goals in a game and he'd still be smiling which is just...I find it incredible.
"It shows the kind of guy he is and it's nice to have someone like that in your team. Regardless of if they miss or they score, they are still going to work hard and he knows he's already got - I don't even know how many goals he's got - so I don't think he's too fussed about missing one."
So impressive were Celtic in a blowout opening 30 minutes against Kilmarnock that rival Kyle Vassell compared the club to Premier League opposition he has faced in cup competition down south.
O'Riley is appreciative of the recognition but reckons it's not a case of his side peaking, but maintaining and even increasing standards as the end of the season approaches.
He said: "It's hard to compare to the Premier League because we haven't played in that league but in terms of the level we are playing at now, I think it's probably to that level which is nice.
"When it's recognised by other players who you are playing against that's obviously a good sign.
"I wouldn't say we are peaking if I'm being honest. I think we have been at a good level for a long time.
"I think since the World Cup break our consistency of performances has been very, very high.
"Now it's the business end of the season when we need to maintain that level and increase it and I think we're doing that.
"We all want more. We want to continue to raise the bar that we have set ourselves. There is no set target on the amount of goals or amount of points we should be getting but I think if we continue the way we are doing then we should be in a nice place at the end of the season."
O'Riley's double takes his tally for the season to three league goals, but he's targetting further scoring exploits after returning to his more natural position after filling in for Callum McGregor at the base of midfield.
"It took me a long time!" said O'Riley of his wait for goals this season. "I think when that first goal went in there was a sense of relief and I think now you are probably going to see a bit more effortlessness in my performance because I have got a bit of a freer mind which always helps.
"It took me three or four games to really feel comfortable and it was probably the same when I went back up into the eight position but now I am feeling good."
