Matt O’Riley reflected on the singular environment and the distinct football culture at Celtic.

The Dane is the man of the hour, after penning a new deal and scoring the winner in the 97th minute against Motherwell on Saturday.

He emphasised the synergistic atmosphere within the club, highlighting it as a space where he can relish his game with ease. The fans are also playing their part, too, as he cherishes and embraces every moment, understanding the significance it holds for him.

“I think, first of all, the culture we’ve got going on. It’s a nice environment to be around. For me, it’s very easy to come to work and just enjoy my football. Second of all, we’ve got crazy fans, who just love football.

“Everyone’s just really together in the whole city, and probably elsewhere in the whole world. I don’t think as a player you get many chances to be involved with a club that has a fanbase like this. So, I’m cherishing and embracing that as it’s really important to me, and I’m trying my best to do that at the moment.”

O’Riley also acknowledged the shifts within the team, referring to the departure of pivotal players during the summer. However, he believes that the club’s commitment to retaining its core players is a powerful declaration of its aspirations and objectives, establishing a sense of stability among players and fans alike.

“Obviously, we lost a couple of important players in the summer, but when you tie down some of your core players in the team, I think it’s a real statement of intent and it probably puts a bit of calmness around everyone’s heads, both fans and players as well. It settles things down and gets us focused on our business now.” [The Celtic Way]

Celtic have tied down Hatate, Kyogo, Abada, Maeda, McGregor, Ralston and Welsh along with O’Riley so far this season, and a few more could yet put pen-to-paper on new deals.