Former Celtic midfielder Matt O’Riley has opened up about his challenging start at Brighton following a summer move reportedly worth over £25 million. The Danish international, who made a significant impact during his time at Parkhead, has struggled to find his footing in the Premier League after a cruel injury blow minutes into his debut.
O’Riley required surgery following that initial setback, and his recovery has been anything but straightforward. Despite his return to fitness, he has yet to complete a full 90 minutes for Brighton, admitting it has been a frustrating period as he works to adapt to a new style of play and find his rhythm in a highly competitive environment.
“It’s definitely been different adapting to a different style of play. It was a big change,” he told RecordSport. “Naturally, at Celtic, you had the ball for most of the game. The main thing is the way the games change speed in the Premier League. At Celtic, it was a case of ‘go, go, go,’ and we’d try to attack all the time. But at Brighton, the game often slows down and then speeds up, so it’s a case of being able to adapt and learn.”
Reflecting on his time at Celtic, O’Riley spoke glowingly about the impact Brendan Rodgers had on his career, crediting the Northern Irishman with providing him the confidence and freedom to thrive on the pitch.
“Brendan put a lot of trust in me,” O’Riley said. “That’s the reason last year came to fruition like it did. I had a manager that really believed in me – and he made me aware of that. That was really nice. By doing that, it allows you to have freedom on the pitch.”
He continued: “I learned so much off Brendan. I try to be as open as I can be to improving. Brendan has been around football a long time. Our manager [at Brighton] is great but, respectively, he’s still very young in his career. Their approaches are always going to be different. But Brendan was great for me. He was always very approachable and you could speak to him any time.”
While O’Riley adjusts to the intensity and demands of Premier League football, he remains optimistic about his future. “I haven’t found the intensity too difficult, but I’m still getting used to the speed of the games. I would hope the best is still in front of me, for sure,” he added.
Celtic Thriving Without O’Riley
Since O’Riley’s departure, Celtic have gone from strength to strength under Brendan Rodgers’ second tenure. The Hoops have reached the knockout stages of the Champions League for the first time in over a decade and remain well ahead in the SPFL title race.
The club’s dominant performances highlight the quality of the squad Rodgers has built, even in O’Riley’s absence. However, fans will no doubt continue to wish the midfielder success as he looks to rediscover his form in England’s top flight.
As the Celtic support keep an eye on O’Riley’s progress, his candid reflections on his time in Glasgow and gratitude towards Rodgers shows the atmosphere the manager has cultivated at Celtic.
