WHILE Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou has taken the success of Rangers in Europe as a gauge on how well his own team have done to put themselves in pole position for the title, midfielder Matt O’Riley is taking inspiration from it.
Given that Celtic have shown - not only through their league position, but in the games against Rangers this season - that they are more than a match for their city rivals, it stands to reason that making a greater impact on European competition next season shouldn’t be beyond them too.
With automatic entry into the Champions League group stages assured should Celtic win the league, that is a huge incentive for O’Riley, who believes Celtic can give a good account of themselves on the continent next term when the chance presents itself once more.
“I think that that’s the right way to look at it,” O’Riley said. “Fair play to them, they’ve done really well in that competition and you can’t hold it against them.
“But it just goes to show that if we’re ready and firing on all cylinders in those big games then we’ll definitely give ourselves a really good chance.
“I’m hoping that next season we can show a bit of that ourselves.”
O’Riley has some more immediate business to take care of, with the clinching of the Premiership title uppermost in his mind. Then, in the summer, he may have the opportunity to impress the Denmark coaching staff as he chases his dream of a place in the senior squad for the World Cup.
“I haven’t heard officially yet but I think I’ll be going on a trip during the summer for a few games, probably with the under-21s,” he said. “In the long term, I can push for the senior squad, which is my aim.
“Obviously, I’d also like to go the World Cup finals in Qatar in November and, if I can maintain my level here – or even improve on it – then, hopefully, I’ll have a chance. That’s really all I can do.
“That would be great and that’s certainly a target for me. Let’s see what happens, though – there’s a lot of football to be played between now and then and a lot of hard work to do. I’ll take it as it comes.”
In terms of domestic business, O’Riley is wary of the incentive that is dangling in front of today’s visitors to Celtic Park, with the Hearts players vying to be in contention to the Scottish Cup Final.
“I’m looking forward to [it] but not thinking about getting anything over the line,” he said.
“I’ll just concentrate on what the job is - which is winning the game – and the rest can take care of itself. We can’t control anything other than that so that’s the approach.
“I’m sure they’ll be fired up. From their point of view they’ll need to think about their form going into the cup final – they’ll want to be playing well and there will be places up for grabs in their cup final team. I’m sure they’ll come with a lot of intensity and we need to be ready for that.
“But it’s just another game for us and we’ll approach it the same as we do every other one and, hopefully, take care of business.”
It has been a hectic start to life in Scotland for O’Riley since his January move to Celtic from MK Dons, and he is still pinching himself that he is on the brink of a Premiership winners’ medal.
“I haven’t really had a proper chance to sit back and reflect on everything that’s happened because there are so many games," he said.
"And, just when you think there’s a chance to celebrate something good, another one comes at you really fast.
“So I haven’t really been able to take it all in. I think that, come the end of the season, I’ll be able to think about how cool this has all been, really.
“I’m certainly enjoying it, what would be the point if I wasn’t? That’s why I play football in the first place. To be honest, I wouldn’t even be here if I didn’t enjoy it.
“That’s how I’ve always approached it and I’m just grateful to be able to do something that I love and, especially, to be able to do it at a club like Celtic.”
