MATT O’RILEY insists Celtic are “not worried” ahead of Thursday’s second leg against Bodo/Glimt in the Europa Conference League, despite the 3-1 loss at Parkhead.
The 21-year-old Englishman, a £1.5million recruit from MK Dons last month, played for 74 minutes in the opening confrontation as the Norwegians picked off the Hoops with devastatingly clinical finishing.
Daizen Maeda headed in the consolation goal for Ange Postecoglou’s side and O’Riley is convinced that could be a key strike when the tie is decided in the Arctic Circle next week.
The former Fulham prospect said: “Thursday night was only one game and there’s still only two goals of a difference.
“We’ve scored enough goals this season to know we can make that deficit up. We’re not worried. We’re obviously disappointed with the result, but we can go there, put in a performance and win the game.
HIT…Daizen Maeda heads in Celtic’s goal against Bodo/Glint with Giorgos Giakoumakis getting a close-up view.
MISS…Daizen Maeda has a shot blocked by Norwegian keeper Nikita Haiken.
“We said in the changing room afterwards, we’re going to come back out and give it all we’ve got.
“We’ve got a game against Dundee this afternoon to look forward to. We need to win and I’m sure we’ll do that because there’s real belief in this team and I think the fans believe in us, too.
“Playing in Europe doesn’t faze me. I felt comfortable the other night, we just lacked a bit of quality going forward – myself included.
“I felt I could have done a few things better, but it can’t be perfect in every game. We’ll try to put it right next week.”
O’Riley, speaking to the Sunday Mail, continued: “We weren’t surprised by Bodo/Glimt. We knew they were a good side because they went to Roma and put on a good performance there.
“But I don’t actually think they were better than us on Thursday night. That’s me being honest.
“We just lacked ruthlessness in the final third. It was a fairly even game and we were on top for most of it.
“We just switched off a little bit and didn’t take our chances.
ON THE RUN…Matt O’Riley has already proved to be a bargain at £1.5million from MK Dons.
“I felt like I was ready for this move. I know I’ve come from League One, but I took a step back to come forward by going to MK Dons.
“I’ve always felt comfortable and still feel I can play at a high level, hopefully with Celtic in the Champions League – that’s the aim.
“I could have done better on Thursday, but I don’t think I was awful. There’s always stuff to improve on.”
O’Riley commented: “Bodo are a good side, we know that, but we weren’t at our best. We had opportunities to do more than we did and our final ball just wasn’t right.
“I had a few where I could have done better and we just weren’t good enough in the final third.
“We conceded sloppy goals, but we’ve got another game to put it right.
“I’ve had a lot of experience at a young age. I made my debut for Fulham in the Championship – I came on and then got taken off again which wasn’t the nicest experience!
“But these things make you stronger. I don’t think too much fazes me any more. I like challenges, that’s why I’m at Celtic.
“I try to show that on the pitch, too. I try to be brave and show for the ball.
“I’m not scared to make mistakes – I made a few on Thursday – but I keep trying and that’s all you can do.
“I have to keep doing that to improve as a player.”
Looking at today’s Premiership encounter at Parkhead, O’Riley added: “Dundee might sit off a bit more, so we will really have to try and break them down.
“We are prepared for all sorts of challenges. Of course, it’s hard to maintain the level of intensity for 90 minutes in every game.
“But we have the depth now in the squad to be able to do it, which is really positive.
SHOVE OFF…Matt O’Riley in action against Hearts in Celtic’s 2-1 win at Tynecastle.
“The training is different to what I have been used to, purely because we play in a different way.
“We are more about pressing, whereas at my previous club we would press at times, sit off at others.
“Here it is more non-stop. Based on stats I am running more here than I did at MK Dons.
“But I enjoy the style of football a lot, so I don’t mind running.”
The Hoops ran amok against the Tayside club – now managed by ex-Celt Mark McGhee – in August when Kyogo Furuhashi netted his first club hat-trick in a 6-0 romp.
And the Japanese hitman was on target twice at Dens Park as Postecoglou’s men eased to a 4-2 victory in November.
Unfortunately, Kyogo will not make an appearance on this occasion as he continues his rehabilitation with a long-term hamstring injury.
* DON’T miss the unbeatable match report from Celtic v Dundee this afternoon – only in your champion CQN.
