Celtic ace now reveals 'key' thing Ange gets squad to do 'behind the scenes'

Celtic midfielder Matt O’Riley has stated the Bhoys train at the same intensity as they play following their 7-0 win over St Johnstone this past weekend.

O’Riley made the move to Celtic Park during the January transfer window from Milton Keynes Dons for a fee of £1.5m, plus add-ons. So far, the central midfielder has made 15 appearances for his new club, scoring three and assisting two – with two of his strikes coming from the bench in his side’s latest victory.

Speaking to journalist Declan McConville after the match, O’Riley revealed just how much Celtic put into their training sessions. He said: “When I came in, there was a slight adaptation in terms of intensity right from the start. Obviously, I came from MK Dons, the style there was quite different, in terms of we didn’t press as much.

“So in my first game, as you probably saw, I cramped up after about 80 minutes just because I wasn’t almost used to that style of play. But then within a couple of games, I felt fine, I felt adapted. I think the way we train is key to the way we play as well.

“If we don’t drive those levels every day, it won’t transfer into the game. The way we played today is kind of how we train every day anyway behind the scenes, so that’s what we try to do.”

TIF Thoughts on Celtic’s intensity…

At least domestically, Celtic have returned to the levels that saw them win nine straight Scottish Premiership titles. They are unbeaten in their last 33 matches in the Premiership, Scottish League Cup and Scottish Cup combined, and having won their last six matches in all competitions, it looks only a matter of time before they regain the league title from Rangers.

Such consistency doesn’t arrive overnight. Under Ange Postecoglou, Celtic lost three of