Matt O'Riley has admitted 2022 has been crazy but knows it could yet go off the scale with the Champions League and a possible World Cup place up for grabs.
It started with him swapping MK Dons for Celtic, going on to win league and Premier Sports Cup medals and getting a Denmark Under-21 call-up. Now he is preparing for his second season which will also bring group stage football in the Champions League and could yet see him gatecrash the Danish squad ahead of Qatar 2022.
O’Riley said: “It has been a crazy few months to be fair, with the Denmark stuff included. In football you don’t really know what to expect. You can be playing in one league and end up in another, so you don’t really know what could happen. I feel I am playing at a comfortable level for myself, which is positive. It’s down to me. If I can do well then I think I’ll have a good chance.”
The 21-year-old is now gearing up for a Premiership defence and the Champions League with Celtic. He added: “It (Champions League) is one of the best platforms in football and I can’t wait for it.”
The midfielder opted to play for Denmark and revealed Morten Wieghorst helped persuade him. The former Celt is now an assistant coach with the Danish national side. O’Riley said: “I spoke to him two or three times. It is good to have somebody to talk to because he was there (at Celtic) for four or five years.”
O’Riley thinks he has been able to make an instant impression at Celtic because they are the perfect fit for him. He said: “I don’t want to say this in an arrogant way but I was at Fulham for a long time. I turned down a contract there because I didn’t feel it was the right pathway for me. I have been playing with good players from a young age which is good and helps you when you transfer to a big club like Celtic.”
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