Top Line Summary

  • Dealing with transfer speculation in January
  • Clinching a place in the Danish Euro 2024 squad being a driver
  • Shunning social media
  • The experience of scoring at Hampden Park 
  • Winning the double for Joe Hart

Everything that Celtic midfielder Matt O'Riley said to the media after being nominated for the PFA Scotland Player of the Year award...

What does it mean to be nominated for this award?

It's very cool, especially when it comes from your fellow peers who recognise your qualities on the pitch.

How would you assess the season on a personal note?

It has been eventful. It has been really fun. I have learned a lot. Naturally, when you are doing well there is a lot of noise around you. I have had to manage things on and off the pitch and that has made me grow a lot as a person.

When you look at where you have played this season, a different manager has come in and you have scored more goals in this campaign. What has changed in your game this season?

A few things. Nothing drastic. I am playing full games every week which helps. A lot of my goals have come after 70-75 minutes and if I wasn't on the pitch at that time I wouldn't have been able to do that. Another thing is the mental aspect as I am in a much better place in body and mind in general. It has taken a lot of work but through the course of time, it has paid off. It is something I continually try to do because if you are happier off the pitch, then on the pitch it transfers.

How difficult was it to deal with the noise and speculation of moving away in January?

It was tough at first. It was something new. I am sure if something like that happened in the future I would be able to manage it better. I don't think I managed it badly it is just that something like that has never happened to me before. It is naturally there at the back of your mind and the first few games were tough. I addressed it off the pitch with my friend who I speak with and I have got back on track.

In terms of being back on track, individual awards are great but there are two trophies up for grabs. How big was the Dundee result just to keep that gap?

Every game is big. It was a really tough game. It didn't look like on TV but the pitch was really tough to play on. When a team is aggressively man-marking you then it is not easy to play against that. It helps when James (Forrest) played as well as he did because when you get a goal, not virtually out of nothing, because it was a really good goal, you need that in those kinds of games.

How much confidence do you have in the squad that you have the experience, character and quality over the next five games to ensure that you can become champions?

I think there is a lot of trust in everybody and we have people like James, Callum (McGregor) and Joe (Hart) who have been around the block numerous times and they know what is required in these moments. We have a manager who has been here as well so if we put all of these things together we are in a good place.

How much has being a part of the Danish Euro 2024 squad driven your performances for Celtic this season?

I try not to think about it. I think that is my best approach. I have been trying to think what is required at Celtic and the rest takes care of itself. I would love to go, naturally but I think for me to be able to go comes from not thinking about it and focusing on what I need to do here at Celtic.

How have you dealt with the expectation levels at Celtic this season?

That is another thing I have had to deal with to be fair. I don't think I need to put any pressure on myself and when I do all it takes is one fall to add that bit of pressure on yourself. That is something I have tried to really manage and over the course of the season, I have dealt with it better and better. We have enough good players and it is not like the whole world is resting on my shoulders and they are depending on me. I need to put that responsibility on my shoulders and I feel a sense of responsibility to help the team in every game I can and that's what I try to do every time I am on the pitch.

Have you been aware of personal criticism and criticism of the Celtic team as a whole this season? Do you shy away from social media?

I genuinely don't read social media. I have done so in the past. I have learnt from my mistakes not to do that because it is not good for you. That's been part of my learning curve and experience. This season I only really use social media when I need to post something. The rest of the time I don't look at it because it is a much healthier approach. Naturally, there is always going to be someone saying something. If I could give advice to any footballer it would be not to look at social media. Just use it in the right way because it doesn't help.

Can it have a detrimental effect on your game if you take it to heart?

Yes, of course it can. Over time you realise that it is just a part of football and you learn not to take it personally. At the start, it is very hard not to take it personally when you have not had a lot of experience in dealing with it. That's been another thing I have tried to assess and cope with.

You did the treble last season. What kind of an achievement would it be for you and the team to back that up with a double this season?

It would be great. I try not to speak about any trophies and get ahead of ourselves. That should be the whole team's aim as it is very easy to get ahead of yourself in these situations. There is still quite a lot of football to be played at Celtic Our approach is to take things on a daily basis and trust the process and we'll take it from there.

Do you understand that things are coming together at a key time as the manager has alluded to? What is working for you?

The squad is in a good place as we have a lot of people coming back from injury and players are fit. Daizen (Maeda) is back in training next week, which is a bonus. All these things accumulate to a stronger squad, which we need in the final period with all sorts of different qualities and characteristics.

When you get this validation from your peers it is great. How happy are you with where you are at and what you have contributed this season?

I am very proud to be here. I must admit it wasn't a personal target of mine to be nominated for Player of the Year by any means. I have found myself by doing the right things. I am very grateful.

You seemed to enjoy your goal at Hampden Park last weekend. How was that as an experience?

Yes, that was a rollercoaster. Any goal in extra time in those kinds of games is going to be emotional and you are up for it. We didn't play our best by any means but just to be able to score in a game like that and to win in the way we did was really cool. Joe got the glory side of it and he massively deserves it. It was nice, that was the fun bit.

There seems to be a determination within the Celtic dressing room to win the double for Joe, is that fair to say?

For sure. I think we want to help Joe's career end on a high. He is such a good guy and a good guy for our team and we all feel a responsibility to him to finish really strongly.