One man who can’t be criticised this season is Matt O’Riley because he has been out of this world in Celtic colours.
There is a reason why some of Europe’s elite teams want to sign him, Celtic will try to do everything they can to keep him in the summer, but the worry is that the money might just be too good to turn down.
On Saturday, as Brendan Rodgers watched his Celtic side drop more points in the league, this time at Aberdeen, it was a game of pure ‘frustration’ for the playmaker, as Chris Sutton eluded to.
Usually, fans are used to watching him be composed in the final third by showcasing outstanding technical ability.
But that wasn’t the case at Pittodrie and Chris Sutton added ‘you don’t often say that’ about Matt O’Riley, as he told Sky Sports Football (03/02/24 at 3:15 pm).
Celtic should have saw managerless Aberdeen off in the first half, but they weren’t ruthless enough and then the erratic nature of the second half proved to be costly.
When Matt O’Riley is overhitting passes and watching his efforts sail well over the bar, then you know that it’s not your day, and the Danish star experienced just that.
Matt O’Riley against Aberdeen
“He knows, he knows,” said Sutton after O’Riley’s shot blazed over the bar after previously over-hitting a pass.
“You can see his frustration. It’s a poor cross-field pass by Clarkson, which Johnston popped the ball out to Kuhn and then back.
“That was a lazy effort from Matt O’Riley, you don’t often say that.”
More consistency from elsewhere
Celtic just can’t rely on O’Riley to always produce the magic and frighten the life out of the opposition.
The way he moves with the ball, dictates play and creates chances is a joy to watch, but others need to also produce consistent performances.
That performance against Aberdeen from the team as a whole isn’t a one-off, fans have seen that all season long and that’s the worry.
And if you include a pretty abject January transfer window, then it only increases the pressure on everyone around the club.
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