Matt O’Riley Hails Celtic Stalwarts’ “Relentless Mentality”

Former Celtic midfielder Matt O’Riley has opened up about the intense pressures he faced during his time at Parkhead. He describes the demanding atmosphere and the high expectations that come with wearing the Hoops.

Now at Brighton, O’Riley made a memorable Premier League debut, scoring against Manchester City, but spoke on Brighton’s official podcast about the challenges he encountered at Celtic.

O’Riley, who joined Celtic in January 2022 and became a fan favourite, noted that the mental and physical toll of playing in Glasgow was unlike anything he’d experienced.

Reflecting on the relentless demand to win every match, he said, “Respectfully, the pressures of playing at Celtic are for most people unimaginable.

“It is not easy to win every Game of Football regardless of who you are playing against.

“If you have got 11 men behind the ball who are well organised sometimes it is difficult to score.

“The longer the Game goes on, the anxiety bulids up in the crowd. And you just need to learn to be able to accept that but also just somehow block it out and stay focused.

To do that every single Game is really tiring, you know – mentally and physically – to sustain it as well.”

O’Riley’s experience at Celtic gave him immense respect for the club’s stalwarts, James Forrest and Callum McGregor, who have long handled the strain of performing across a demanding 60-Game season. “Anyone who is able to play at Celtic for a long time, like James Forrest and Callum McGregor, to have that kind of relentless mentality… it is genuinely tiring,” he said.

His move to Brighton not only signals a fresh opportunity but has also allowed him to step back from the ceaseless pressure cooker of Celtic Park. O’Riley admitted he even worked with a mindfulness coach to cope with the intensity in the past. Despite the challenges, he looks back fondly on his time at Celtic, leaving with a record transfer fee and the respect of a fan base that appreciated his contributions.