Matt O’Riley has spoken out in detail about Celtic’s decision to reject an offer form Atletico Madrid during the January transfer window.
After being the outstanding player for Brendan Rodgers’ side during the first half of the season the midfielder’s form dipped following news of the offer from La Liga.
A number of reasons could be put forward for that drop in form, O’Riley’s workload and overuse so far this season plus Celtic’s general form which saw points dropped to Kilmarnock and Hearts as top place in the Premiership slipped away.
At the end of this season Atletico are likely to resume their interest but it is only natural that a 23-year-old would be thinking ‘what if’ about the January option which arrived just two years after he had left MK Dons in League One for Celtic.
Explaining his situation to Football Scotland O’Riley said:
If I’m being completely honest, the first two or three games after the transfer window mentally it was a slight challenge because I felt somewhat a bit of added pressure on my shoulders, just slightly. But then I realised I didn’t really know why I was putting extra pressure on myself.
I didn’t really need to change anything. I kind of came away from that and focused on what I bring to the team it clicked back into place again.
Each season, regardless of it going well it will still pose a different challenge. Of course bids are great but it could still potentially be a negative thing if you don’t see it from the right way as well so another thing to learn going forwards.
In midweek Atletico take on Borussia Dortmund looking for a place in the semi-finals of the Champions League and a place in the final at Wembley.
Next Saturday O’Riley will be preparing for his fourth match against St Mirren of the season with a third trip to Paisley expected after the SPFL split.
Tomorrow at Ibrox the Danish internationalist could be rejoined by Callum McGregor are Reo Hatate knowing that an away win will go a long way to securing a third successive SPFL title, followed by a summer of transfer speculation.