Matt O'Riley lauds teammate who has helped him settle at Celtic

By Lewis Laird

May 6, 2022

Celtic midfielder Matt O’Riley has praised Callum McGregor after the Hoops captain picked up the PFA player of the year award last week.

O’Riley arrived in Glasgow in the January transfer window, signing from English League One side MK Dons, and has enjoyed a good start to life in green and white.

The 21-year old hasn’t been in Glasgow for long but has already felt the impact that McGregor has around the club.

Speaking to the press ahead of this weekend’s game against Hearts, O’Riley was full of praise for McGregor and his performances which have helped the team along the way this season.

The Danish u21 internationalist also detailed the kind of character he is, explaining how the Celtic academy graduate was the first one to greet him on his arrival at Lennoxtown.

O’Riley said [Celtic TV], “He’s been great. I remember my first day here; he was the first one to come up and welcome me. So, that kind of says enough about his character, and just throughout my time here, he’s been really good.

“He has been very important in terms of moments in games where you just need someone to step up. Before the game, he tries to get everyone going, and then after the game, he’s always quite a calm head as well, never really singles anyone out.

“So he is very level headed about it, which is really important as a captain. He’s been great.”

This season, McGregor has shown his capabilities as a captain, stepping up to replace Scott Brown after his departure last summer.

Hearing short stories like this from O’Riley just show his class too, and that is undoubtedly small tips he has picked up from the previous Celtic captain along the way.

McGregor and O’Riley will be looking to finish the season off strongly now with the prospect of a double on the horizon, just two games from lifting the Premiership title.

It would certainly round off an excellent first campaign as skipper, to go with the Premier Sports cup and the individual awards picked up last week.

In other news, Ange Postecoglou names the ‘most significant game’ in Celtic’s title push.