Matt O’Riley’s conversation with Joe Hart that instilled his deep love for Celtic

Celtic are four matches away from the end of the Scottish Premiership campaign, and Brendan Rodgers will be desperate to secure title glory.

Whether the Bhoys smash through or struggle over the finish line, getting our hands on the league trophy will be the only priority following a rollercoaster season at Parkhead.

Back-to-back home fixtures against Heart of Midlothian and Rangers have set the scene for a dramatic few weeks, where Rodgers will be reliant on his key men to produce the goods in some difficult fixtures.

Last weekend, James Forrest harnessed his experience to become the hero in green and white once again against Dundee. His boss, due to his exploits at Dens Park, described him as one of the ‘fathers of the great success this club has had’ in the last decade.

Nevertheless, the likes of Joe Hart, Matt O’Riley, Cameron Carter-Vickers, and Callum McGregor are also set to be leaned on during the run-in.

The quartet mentioned all have previous title-winning experience at Celtic, which will be key in the fight with Rangers as we aim to beat our city rivals to the punch.

Matt O’Riley on Joe Hart and their shared love for Celtic

Coming into a club the size of Celtic from MK Dons in 2022 would’ve been a difficult challenge for most; however, O’Riley’s talent has elevated his career to new heights at Parkhead.

Sometimes, we forget the Denmark international is only 23, though he has already made 113 appearances for the Bhoys, scoring 32 goals and providing 22 assists across all comPetitions [Transfermarkt].

Speaking via The Daily Record, the London-born playmaker has opened up on a conversation he had with Hart about the size of Celtic, alongside detailing some early events that helped to instill his deep affection for life in Glasgow.

O’Riley stated: “I actually asked Joe that. I asked if there’s anywhere else like this and he said ‘no, not at all’. He’s played at the highest level with the best players and the biggest clubs. But it just shows the passion and love for Celtic, both sides of Glasgow – I’m sure Rangers will say the same – but the love and intensity for both their clubs is so strong that naturally you get sucked in and fall in love with the team.

“I don’t think anyone realises how big the club is until you get here. I realised on my first day just how big it was. I’ve told this story before. I was viewing properties, and there were builders running after me, and I honestly thought, ‘What is happening here?’ I wasn’t used to it.

“It was that intensity and passion from people, it sucks you right in. So naturally, I’ve been in love with the club for a long time. Hopefully, that shows by dedication and performance. I’m really enjoying it and hopefully still will.”

Matt O’Riley will be pivotal for Celtic in title pursuit

Come the summer, there is a chance that interest may appear in O’Riley following La Liga giants Atletico Madrid’s failed bid to try and prize him away from Parkhead in January; regardless, his primary focus will be on claiming a domestic double at Celtic.

Recently, the international Danish spoke out about speculation surrounding his future, revealing that he even banned his parents from mentioning reports in the media.

Of course, Rodgers moved to retain his services in mid-season, and it isn’t hard to see why, given that he has created 79 chances in the Scottish Premiership this term, the most in the league of any Celtic player [Fotmob].

As we enter into the final stretch of the campaign, O’Riley could hold the key to helping his side over the line in the title race.