Ross County manager Malky Mackay has called on his players to aspire to the level of calmness and composure exhibited by Celtic star Matt O’Riley.
O’Riley made a splash on the European football scene with his exquisite assist for Kyogo Furuhashi against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night.
He’s been rightly lauded by his manager, pundits and supporters. Journalist Fabrizio Romano has even been suggesting his transfer worth is now beyond £25m.
Now Mackay has used him as an example of the attributes he wants to see in the Dingwall team.
Celtic’s Matt O’Riley is wowing everyone
He said [Ross-shire Journal]: “It’s the little things, in the final moment. We talk about bodies on fire, heads in the fridge. They’ve got to have that calmness and make the last thing they do, the best or most important thing they do.
“Sometimes all that is about is the weight of a pass, sliding someone in – you can get excited and over-kick it or hit the defender with it. Whereas, slide it in properly and they go and they put it in the net.
“I was watching Celtic against Atletico Madrid and they were sensational. Matt O’Riley’s pass (for Kyogo) is so calm. There is fire going off everywhere and he had the calmness to put it into the player’s path. Can you make sure the last thing you do is the best thing you do?”
Like Celtic, Ross County have a big weekend of Premiership action ahead, visiting Motherwell on Saturday afternoon. They don’t have the quality of the Bhoys but clearly Mackay sees things in this team that can be taught to others regardless.
O’Riley is a shining example in Scottish football right now. He is inarguably the best performer in the division so far this season.
It has been thrilling to see him take that confidence and form onto the European scene. Hopefully Hibernian feel a bit of it tomorrow, too.
In other news, Brendan Rodgers addresses Celtic fans singing his name and growing reputation on return.
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