O’Riley says Euro exit will allow Celtic to focus on title

MATT O’Riley has predicted that getting knocked out of Europe will help Celtic focus on winning the cinch Premiership and Scottish Cup and increase their chances of completing their fifth treble in six years.

The midfielder was bitterly disappointed when the Parkhead club lost the second leg of their UEFA Conference League play-off with Bodo/Glimt in Norway on Thursday night.

Ange Postecoglou’s side were beaten 2-0 by Kjetil Knutsen’s team in the Aspmyra Stadium and suffered a 5-1 aggregate defeat. But O’Riley believes that Celtic, who take on Hibernian in a league game at Easter Road at noon today, will feel the benefits of not being involved in continental competition.

They are currently just three points ahead of Rangers, who beat Borussia Dortmund in the Europa League knockout round play-off in midweek and now face a last 16 double header against Red Star Belgrade next month, in the top flight table.

“Naturally, it’s disappointing to lose any game of football,” said O’Riley. “But the mood wasn’t too bad because we still feel we’re in a good place, generally. In terms of that tie, we know we didn’t play at our best. So in that sense, the mood was a bit low. But we’ve been on a good run of form and everyone in the camp feels good mentally so we’re okay.”

Asked what impact the European exit will have on the Premier Sports Cup winners in the Premiership, he added: “It will help us and that has to be the focus for us now. We’ve got the league and the Scottish Cup to concentrate on. We want to win both of them and we feel like we can.

“The mood is still good in the camp. We’re disappointed about Thursday night, but it gives us more chance to focus on the league.

“A lot of people outside, like the fans, won’t feel this is the end of the world because we can concentrate on the title and Scottish Cup.

“The title is definitely there for us and it’s our intention to win the league. It’s still early days, there’s lots of football to be played.

“But if that wasn’t our intention, there wouldn’t be any point.

“We’re feeling good and ready to push on now. There are lots of important games coming up so we’ll focus on them and see where it can take us.”