WIZARD OF OZ FEELS THE MAGIC O’Riley edging ever closer to a World Cup spot
Ange’s trip back home confirms Australia can’t wait to see Celtic
GIVEN that half of his South Melbourne teammates were expat Scots, the worldwide pull of Celtic has never needed any explaining to Ange Postecoglou.
After last week’s return trip Down Under — his first since the pandemic — the former Australia boss can vouch for a whole new level of intrigue surrounding the sporting institution he now manages.
His journey afforded Postecoglou the chance to catch up with some old friends, while embarking on a string of TV interviews to promote his team’s games in the forthcoming Sydney Super Cup.
After their opening clash with Sydney FC on November 17, Celtic take on Frank Lampard’s Everton on November 20 — the same day the World Cup gets under way in Qatar and two days before Australia’s first game against France. Such is the excitement over Celtic’s visit, Postecoglou can’t detect any likelihood of one event overshadowing the other.
‘It was good, mate,’ he said of his trip. ‘It was great to talk to people about the tour and about the football club.
‘Everyone has a great interest in how I’m going over here, and it was great to spread the message.
‘There’s a real excitement about the club’s visit, which is great to see. It’s fair to say that Celtic have caught the imagination of people back home.
‘Celtic have always had a really strong supporter base and a really strong connection with Australia but, obviously with my involvement, that’s definitely been strengthened.
‘They are following the progress of the football club really strongly now and are really excited about seeing the team in person.
‘It will be at a time when there is a real focus on football in Australia. All the other codes are finished so, at that time of the year, the World Cup will be about to start and the A-League will be going, so there will be a real football focus.’
By then, Postecoglou will hope to be in a happier place than he was a couple of weeks ago when his team lost their first league match in 38 games at St Mirren.
Postecoglou faced the matter off with humour in the Australian TV studios, claiming he’d been forced to flee the country.
The loss was, of course, a minor blip in the remarkable restorative job he’s overseen at Parkhead.
His side have turned winning with style into such a habit that their malfunction was a timely reminder of how it’s not always as easy as they have made it look.
‘You’re obviously disappointed when you lose any game, but you have to apply perspective to these things,’ he said.
‘It’s not like we thought we were unbeatable. We knew, and I’ve said all along, that we are a team that is still developing and progressing.
‘We are only in the second year of rebuilding a side, we have only had three transfer windows. So we’re by no means the finished product.
‘We didn’t perform on the day and St Mirren did. So we’ve analysed the game the same way we analyse every game, given the feedback to the players and now we move on to the next challenge.’
The international make-up of his squad meant that few were left at Lennoxtown to stew in their own juice. The Scotland contingent, in particular, returned this week feeling much better about themselves after securing a Euro 2024 play-off place.
The displays of Greg Taylor across the games with
Ukraine and the Republic of Ireland were especially praiseworthy. Now up to ten caps, the full-back has demonstrated beyond all debate that he can step in for Andy Robertson or Kieran Tierney if required. ‘It’s great for Greg,’ added Postecoglou. ‘He works really hard to be the best he can be, and get his level of football up there and maximise his potential. He has two world-class left-backs to compete against with Scotland. You can look at that as daunting, or see it as a challenge and something to motivate you, which I know he does. ‘He wants to play at that same level, and the way he goes about things shows that he seeks constant improvement. ‘He would have come back pleased that he was able to contribute, but also come back wanting to make sure he is better the next time he is selected for the national team. ‘It’s great for Scotland. I thought Aaron Hickey was outstanding as well, and you have the likes of Nathan Patterson, Calvin Ramsay and Josh Doig. Full-back is an area where Scotland have some real talent.’ There’s plenty in the middle of the park, too. What does it say about Callum McGregor’s ability, fitness and attitude that he played every minute of the three matches?
All told, the midfielder played 69 games in season 2018-19. Who’d bet against him breaking the 70 mark for club and country at some point?
‘If he plays 70 good games then I’ll have no problem with it,’ said Postecoglou with a smile.
‘The reality of it, and why Steve Clarke and I keep selecting him, is because his level of performances have been outstanding.
‘He’s been doing it for a while and, in the past year and a half, he’s taken his game to another level.
‘He’s shown real leadership in the role that he has now taken, within our club and in the Scotland camp as well.’
Before Celtic board the flight to Sydney, they have 13 matches, including nine in October, which will go a long way to defining their season.
‘That’s why we’ve built a squad and we have tailored our training,’ said Postecoglou (left).
‘Between now and the break we’ve got 13 games in 42 or 43 days. If you do the maths, we’ll be playing every three days or so.
‘We feel like the majority of the squad is now in good physical condition to contribute, and it’s about making sure they do that when they get their opportunity.’
HAVING come so far in his career of late, Matt O’Riley sees no reason why he can’t go a little further. Two years after training on his own in a public park, the Celtic midfielder counts a Premiership title and Champions League experience as vindication for the bold choices he made after leaving Fulham, joining MK Dons and then coming north to Parkhead.
Eligible for Denmark on account of his mother, the heightened profile he has enjoyed in Glasgow has also earned him recognition with the Danish Under-21s side.
O’Riley (below) starred and scored on Tuesday as Jesper Sorensen’s side squared the aggregate score in their play-off with Croatia in Vejle.
An eventual defeat on penalties may have cost the young Danes a place in the European Championship finals, but O’Riley’s display might just have landed him a far bigger prize. Namely, a place in the senior squad’s participation in next month’s World Cup.
‘I don’t think I did my chances of making the A squad for Qatar any harm,’ said the 21-year-old. ‘I felt I performed pretty well overall, especially the second game which was my kind of performance in terms of how I affected the game — on the ball especially.
‘I spoke with the 21s manager just before I left and he basically said: “Keep going and keep pushing” because obviously I’m pretty close in terms of making the squad. I haven’t made it but I’ve got a chance.
‘I’m at a big club and we’re playing in the Champions League so you’d think that, if I continue to do well, there will be a chance. I’m not 100 per cent sure. Whatever happens, I’ll still be a fan if I’m not there.’
By the time it all gets under way on November 20, there will doubtless be a few extraordinary personal stories among the competing nations.
If O’Riley makes it, though, you’d do well to better a yarn encompassing all that time spent in football’s wilderness before tangling with the likes of Luka Modric.
After such a staggering rise, the challenge of playing in Qatar wouldn’t faze him.
‘I’ve just got to keep doing well at Celtic and see what happens really,’ he added. ‘It obviously feels a bit closer than it was a year ago. A lot of things can happen in a short space of time. Of course you need a little bit of luck on the way but I think you make your own luck through the work you put in. ‘I’m obviously grateful to be in the position I’m in.’ No matter how things pan out, O’Riley thinks he has given himself the best possible chance of succeeding. ‘I’ve got a sort of coach/mentor/friend that I speak to quite often just to make sure my head’s in a good space,’ he said. ‘I do that quite a lot — just to make sure I’m staying level-headed and grounded. ‘I met him at Fulham. He was an intern when I was there. We immediately became friends. At the time he was studying sports science. He started doing research and other stuff once he left there. ‘He lives in India now which makes it quite hard in terms of being four and a half hours ahead. So we’ve got to plan it in terms of what times we speak to each other. Sometimes it can be for a very long time — up to three hours. Other times it might be just for an hour or something. ‘Eventually I’ll hopefully be able to get him over so we can do some work in person. ‘It’s helped me a lot, both on and off the pitch. It’s not just specifically football talk. It’s general well-being and keeping on top of that side of things, as I think that gets overlooked.’ The head space Celtic have occupied this week has felt unfamiliar. A defeat at St Mirren in the final game before the international break was their first in the league in almost a year. With the counter back at zero ahead of today’s game with Motherwell, the set-back has fostered a collective desire to go again. ‘We’ve had to sit on it for a couple of weeks both in here at the training ground and obviously for all the fans,’ said O’Riley. ‘It was a frustrating day but, at the same time, it was our first loss in a very long time. In terms of where the club is right now, we’re in a very good place. ‘As long as we react on Saturday and get back on track then it’s not really a problem. ‘We’ve prepared for this game the same as we have for any other. Sometimes you just lose a game of football. It’s naturally disappointing but hopefully it doesn’t happen again any time soon.’