Matt O’Riley was asked whether he expects Rangers to ‘come back strong’ on Celtic this coming season but expertly handled it, just as his teammates have before this summer.
Outlets will always chance their arm with a question about the title race. It’s undeniably a talking point for neutrals or those looking for stories heading into the Scottish Premiership campaign.
However, just as Callum McGregor did last week, O’Riley made it clear that the Celtic squad are only interested in what’s going on within their own four walls – no one else.
Asked the Rangers question by The Times, the January signing said: “We expect everyone to come back strong. We focus on how can we improve from last season and if we do that the rest will take care of itself.
“Training standards are high, off-the-park standards are high and we just need to keep pushing as high as we can. When we play at our best, we can just about beat anyone.”
This is becoming a default answer for a squad that is clearly well drilled on what to say and how to handle themselves with supporters.
Or, it could just be that this message is so reinforced day-to-day at Lennoxtown that these players naturally have a one-track mind regarding the coming season.
Either way, it’s a good thing.
Every message from them is about personal improvement, team improvement and getting better – with no thoughts of any outside context.
It’s everything you will hear from Ange Postecoglou in an interview this summer, and it’s great to hear absolutely everyone is on the same page.
Except maybe for Giorgos Giakoumakis – he might have a few more things to say when asked about Rangers, as he did in the spring when he upset a few at Ibrox!
In other news, Celtic negotiations on Japan tour; prior barrier dates, what to expect, what Ange Postecoglou has previously said.
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