“He adores Celtic.” Exclusive: ‘Huge’ Celtic player news about their January transfer

Celtic ace Matt O’Riley wishes to continue to be at the club this January amid Premier League interest, sources have told Football Insider.

It is believed that the 23-year-old loves Celtic and is playing his soccer underneath manager Brendan Rodgers.

Football Insider correspondent Pete O’Rourke told Football Insider’s Inside Track Podcast that Celtic would demand a “huge” rate to even reflect onconsideration on letting him this winter.

It is believed that there will be essential hobby from England and across Europe in the Danish global this summer season but his foremost focal point is in Glasgow the place he wants to assist Celtic keep the league title.

As revealed by Football Insider (26 December), Premier League side West Ham United are keeping close tabs on O’Riley and have sent scouts to commonly watch him in action this season.

The central midfielder has been a mainstay for the Hoops this season and has notched nine dreams and eight assists throughout 26 games in all competitions.

O’Riley moved to Celtic Park in January 2022 for a reported £1.5million from MK Dons and the Hoops will earn a sizeable profit on him with any sale.

Across 98 appearances since his move, he has bagged 17 goals and 24 assists.

Sources have additionally told Football Insider (28 December) that the Hoops have a three-man January target list and have made signing a striker a priority.

Celtic stay at the top of the league after their 3-0 away win towards Dundee on Boxing Day and next face Rangers and Parkhead on Saturday (30 December).

Ian Wright Gary Neville is astounded by Celtic history as Roy Keane delivers a biting one-liner

Arsenal legend Wright spent 4 months at Parkhead after being signed as a momentary substitute for injured Henrik Larsson

It goes without announcing that Ian Wright’s quality years were properly behind him when the Arsenal legend pitched up at Celtic Park in 1999.

So much so that close pal and Manchester United legend Gary Neville didn’t even understand he performed for the Hoops! It’s a length in records that Celtic fans would instead erase from memory, and that is why Wright’s short stint in Glasgow used to be a forgettable one.

Following Henrik Larsson’s horror leg break in Lyon, boss John Barnes turned to his ex-England teammate through signing the striker from West Ham on a non permanent deal. A player in the twilight of his career and dwelling on past glories, it is truthful to say Wright’s time at Parkhead didn’t go to design as he scored simply three instances and got here on as a second-half sub throughout that infamous Scottish Cup defeat to Inverness Caley Thistle.

Barnes paid the fee with his job that night and it wasn’t lengthy earlier than Wright observed him out the door, returning south with Burnley the place he in the end pulled the curtain down on his incredible career.

Best acknowledged for his iconic years at Crystal Palace and Arsenal, Wright’s association with Celtic left Neville gob-smacked as the Stick to Football pundit and sidekick Jamie Carragher had been asked via quiz host Paddy McGuinness to listing the clubs the goalscoring frontman played for. After Liverpool hero Carragher answered Celtic, astonished Neville became to Wright and exclaimed: “You went to Celtic?”

Before Wright should get a phrase in, devilish Roy Keane – who additionally spent a quick spell at Parkhead – at once dished out a savage one-liner and teased: “He used to be up there… he didn’t play, did he?”

Justifying his move to Celtic, Wright explained: “I had a length of my career the place I was bouncing from one club to every other attempting to finish in 2000.”

The 60-year-old added: “I performed for Nottingham Forest for a month’s loan earlier than I went to Celtic. So it was once Palace, Arsenal and West Ham. Then Forest on loan, Celtic and Burnley. I had four clubs in one season, you can not do that anymore. Me and Harry Redknapp did not get on so he blew me out at West Ham. I went on loan to Forest, then Henrik Larsson received injured so I went to Celtic.

“It all went wrong, Barnesy was there, then I went to Burnley to finish it off and we received promoted. It’s a stunning story.”

Matt O’Riley is content at Celtic because the champions want to grow rather than sell, leaving Inter Milan yearning

The midfielder is in demand however big names will now not be listened to if they come calling.

Inter Milan will be given quick shrift if they company up their hobby in Celtic star Matt O’Riley.

It used to be printed at the give up of closing week that the Serie A leaders had the Hoops midfielder high on their January radar. The Italian massive is considering making a pass that would be a mortgage for the season with an eight parent responsibility to purchase in the summer. Celtic aren’t actively searching to sell and currently signed up the Danish global on a new long-term contract.

Record Sport also recognize that although O’Riley is aware of the activity he is currently settled and pleased to continue to be at Celtic Park. The Celtic board are additionally greater fascinated in strengthening their squad than promoting their prize assets. The Hoops are presently in a title combat with Rangers and they are looking to keep Brendan Rodgers’ side clear at the pinnacle of the Premiership.

Rodgers admitted closing week that he has “no fears” when it got here to pastime in O’Riley. Celtic signed O’Riley for a good buy £1.5 million from MK Dons last season.

He has absolutely kicked on once more this season below Rodgers and has added a cutting facet with nine desires and eight assists this season. Now if they had been to promote the 23-year-old they would be searching to command a big-money fee, probably to be in the equal £20 plus million mark they bought Jota for remaining summer season to Saudi club Al-Ittihad.

The Celtic recruitment group are actively working on January targets, Estoril wideman Tiago Araujo stays an energetic target. The Portuguese side, though, are due a 50 per cent sell- on of any fee to former membership Benfica. They are presently weighing up whether or now not to promote in this window.

Wolves striker Fabia Silva has additionally been offered on-loan to both Celtic and Rangers. The 23-year-old has had current loan spells at Anderlecht and PSV Eindhoven.

Meanwhile, Celtic midfielder Yosuke Ideguchi looks set to give up his irritating Celtic spell when the switch window reopens. The Japanese midfielder is presently on mortgage at Avispa Fukuoka however is anticipated to be a part of Vissel Kobe in a £850,000 deal . Celtic signed him from Gamba Osaka closing yr but damage saw his time in Scotland curtailed.

‘He did well,’ Andy Walker can’t believe Brendan Rodgers isn’t using the 17-year-old Celtic prospect more often

Celtic’s win over Feyenoord last week was once pivotal for Brendan Rodgers’ in the truth that it received that Champions League win stat off the club’s back.

Not considering that beating Anderlecht returned in 2018 had the Hoops recorded a win in Europe’s pinnacle opposition and defeating Feyenoord allows the club to put that chapter behind them.

One of the players who used to be heavily concerned in that win, Mitchel Frame, has given that disappeared from sight. Winning the nook to permit the risk to be created for Gustaf Lagerbielke’s winner, many would have idea that his fearless method to the game would have earned the 17-year-old winger more involvement in the first team.

Apparently not. And former Celtic striker, Andy Walker, can’t agree with young Frame hasn’t been worried more since.

Walker said [The Go Radio Football Show], “I notion anyone like Mitchel Frame, I was so amazed to see him in the squad for the Feyenoord game.

“He without a doubt come on for about 15-20 minutes. I thinking he did well, I thought he merited every other stint on the bench.

“He was nowhere to be viewed either.”

Look, the youngster nonetheless has masses of time to make his mark in the Celtic group but absolutely it would have been clever to nonetheless encompass him at the same time as his self belief was once high?

After recently signing a new deal at the club, Frame is exceptionally rated inside Celtic and it seems he does have a vibrant future in advance of him.

Let’s hope that Celtic are studying from the Rocco Vata situation and have a format to develop younger Frame into a first-team player as the fans would hate to lose every other proficient teenager due to the fact they in no way noticed a future at the club.

We might wish Derek Adams hadn’t said it, but perhaps it was necessary

The Ross County manager’s evisceration of the Scottish sport put cat amongst the pigeons

Iwonder if Derek Adams still doesn’t do it. Swear, that is. In 2010 I interviewed him at Hibs where he’d simply been appointed assistant manager. He cited this strict abstinence at some point of the captivating chat and then, after photos, got here again and discovered me to say goodbye and stress that, no, swearie phrases by no means handed his lips.

How frequently does the average man or woman do it? Around ten times a day, apparently, and I’m sure we can all think of some human beings who exceed that, using up Adams’ quota and then some. There was once a survey lately which claimed that the odd expletive-filled rant can be beneficial. Specifically, it may assist us to be fitter, happier, greater persuasive and better capable to stand up to pain. Still, 13 years ago it was brilliant to me that Adams didn’t swear, even though this regarded to in shape with the personality of a man of trust who was additionally teetotal. For after all: football’s football.

And Scottish football’s Scottish football. Perpetual bottom-six is stressful. Flirting with the trap-door is stressful. And usually the enterprise of being a supervisor is far more disturbing than it used to be lower back in 2010 with a increased chance of ending up being sacked. So, really, when you regrettably lose a sport in the 97th minute – your defender’s clearance rebounding into the internet off an opposing participant who’d quite a whole lot been selecting his nostril at that moment – God would truly have forgiven you for letting a tiny bit rip with some industrial language.

Ross County manager Derek Adams made some scathing comments last weekend.

And possibly Adams is questioning he might have been higher off swearing last Saturday while taking out his frustration on a door, a tea-urn or a tactics board. And then long gone earlier than the cameras and, when asked what he’d stated to his Ross County team, defined this would stay within the (beat-up) dressing-room. And to conclude, possibly trotted out the line: “We’ll pick out ourselves up, dirt ourselves down and go again next week.” That’s always a appropriate one.

Instead … well, we be aware of what Adams did. As it says in the Bible, Isaiah 6:4, he “shook the Temple to its foundations”. His blast at the satisfactory of our soccer – that is, the crying lack of any – sparked uproar. Many rushed to its defence, although this wasn’t quite the unanimous reaction.

At the the front of those speeding have been the TV and radio presenters, pundits and commentators. They introduced to mind the scene in the disaster film spoof Airplane! where newsmen following the drama of the afflicted jet sprinted to a row of phoneboxes to file their modern dispatches and, hitting the returned of the cubicles simultaneously, brought on them all to crash to the ground.

Now, I’m not pronouncing the broadcast meeja – or the written media for that count – weren’t goal in their criticism of Adams but they have a vested interest. If Scottish soccer didn’t exist, or had absolutely slumped to an unmitigatingly lousy standard, then many of them would be out of jobs. So they promote, speak up and rally round the game. All admirable in its way and if I’m now not at a match I’m grateful for the radio insurance on Saturday afternoons. But there’s a lot of cheerleading which is from time to time in inverse share to the quality on the pitch.

The Staggies were floored by a very late winner from Dundee

A few years ago, in the pressroom at half-time in a game, one of the journos posed the question to his fellow scribblers: “If you weren’t doing this for a living would you pay to watch Scottish football?” No fingers went up, which caused a chorus of gloomy chuckles.

Admittedly this wasn’t a golden moment for Scottish football. The national crew at major tournaments were still on the outside, looking in. Few if any current were ancient enough to have said on France ’98. And of course this has to be factored in, too: we hacks are a cynical bunch nearly all of the time.

Which is why the only views that truly rely here are of those who do stump up admission every week: the fans. It is their game to obsess over, argue about endlessly, fall in and out of love with, hurl their scarves onto the park one week, buy substitute ones the next.

Adams has apologised to the Ross County players for criticising them in such a public way but stands by way of his withering view of the familiar standard.

Our followers can wither with the first-class of them and every and every one, on a pretty regular basis, will have muttered darkly about a game/their team/the whole caboodle being, in accordance to Adams, “shocking”. They’re allowed to do this but it chills fairly when a manager does it, being one of the guys, after all, entrusted with the job of making soccer much less shocking.

How many of you observe Bryan’s Gunn, the feed on X, formerly Twitter? If you don’t, you should. It hilariously data how often soccer people say the identical things, over and over again. These are cliches and often a way of the supervisor avoiding pronouncing what he absolutely thinks. I’m sure that from time to time Adams has resorted to cliches however last week he most definitely stated what he used to be thinking. I’m now not surprised it used to be him who – cliche apert – put the cat amongst the pigeons, as he looks to be a man apart. Unsurprisingly, too, it was any other man apart – David Martindale – who most firmly upheld Adams’ right to communicate his mind.

We would possibly desire that he didn’t say what he did, but perhaps it needed saying.

Celtic are “considering” a £3 million midfield transfer as the former Rangers player is “open” to a loan move

The ultimate spherical of Scottish Premiership fixtures earlier than the festive duration take place this weekend with Celtic in action in opposition to Livingston at Parkhead on Saturday before Rangers make the brief outing to Lanarkshire to face Motherwell at Fir Park on Christmas Eve.

Brendan Rodgers’ Hoops will strive to arrest their mini form slump in opposition to the rock-bottom West Lothian outfit following back-to-back league defeats, whilst Philippe Clement’s Gers will aim to hold their impressive unbeaten run underneath the Belgian.

Transfer rumours proceed to flow into online. Here, we round up the brand new news and headlines from Glasgow’s two leading golf equipment on Friday, December, 22.

Celtic ‘considering’ switch swoop for BK Hacken midfielder

As per a file from Football Scotland, Celtic have ‘watched’ BK Hacken attacking midfielder Romeo Amane and are “considering” a switch swoop in January.

The 20-year-old Ivorian, who used to be named alongside Hoops midfielder Odin Thiago Holm in the European Golden Boy award listing for 2023, is presently valued at £3million via the Swedish outfit after scoring three desires and contributing three assists so far this season.

Amane has been a mainstay in the Hacken side, proposing in every single fit during their Europa League campaign, along with a qualifier against Aberdeen back in August. The Scottish champions scouting branch are claimed to have watched footage of the playmaker and saw him in motion throughout a recent conflict with Azerbaijani side Qarabag.

The player’s title has been added to supervisor Brendan Rodgers’ shortlist of feasible ambitions after before being linked with Dutch giants Ajax beforehand this year.

Ex Rangers celebrity ‘open’ to Fenerbahce loan exit

Ryan Kent’s post-Rangers struggles have persisted in Turkey after the winger was once unnoticed from Fenerbahce’s matchday squad all together as Süper Lig soccer again in midweek.

Following the suspension of games in the country, Kent’s absence from manager İsmail Kartal’s squad used to be visible for the seven-goal thriller towards Kayerispor on Wednesday night time with the participant not even blanketed on the subs’ bench.

The 27-year-old has persevered a frustrating spell after failing to set up himself as a ordinary starter and struggling to recapture the kind of structure that saw him light up Ibrox for the duration of Steven Gerrard’s reign. A January loan exit could nicely be on the cards, with the Gers one of several golf equipment linked as they weigh up a possible reunion with their former player.

Kent also has suggested pastime from clubs in England with Sheffield United and Leeds, however Fenerbahce boss Kartal played down the importance of leaving the wide man out. He said: “It used to be fundamental to make such a decision.

“There is no such factor as Kent will no longer play or be in the squad in for future games but we made such a selection in this match. Maybe in the coming weeks, sudden names might also now not be in the squad, due to the fact we have a very massive squad.”

Report: Celtic is vying to sign a player for £35 million who has sobbed on the field this year

With Celtic searching to add some serious fine to their ranks in January, it doesn’t get any extra serious than this.

Brendan Rodgers has constantly bemoaned the fact his crew are lacking excellent and with Kyogo Furuhashi clearly struggling to find goals, it seems the Celtic manager has flip to the English Premier League to solve his striking ills.

A record from Ojogo has claimed that Celtic are main the race to sign Portuguese striker, Fabio Silva.

The 21-year-old used to be signed by way of Wolves for over £35m [BBC] in 2020 but after a disastrous two seasons at Molineaux, the youngster is stated to be looking to cross on.

The report claims, “Fábio Silva is making ready to go away Wolverhampton when the market reopens and the striker’s future have to go thru Scottish football, where he is disputed via Celtic and Rangers.”

Fabio Silva’s Wolves woes

The younger striker has discovered it difficult to live up to his rate tag as he has only scored five dreams in 72 appearances for Wolves. [Transfermarkt]

Clearly struggling, the final straw for Silva was when he ‘conceded’ a penalty in the demise minutes towards Sheffield United remaining month.

With the sport poised at 1-1 and Wolves nevertheless unbeaten, the teen challenged George Balldock in the penalty box. It regarded like no contact was once made as The Blades striker was once already on his way down.

The penalty was once awarded and backed up by means of VAR, and Wolves misplaced the game and their unbeaten start to the season.

Silva used to be inconsolable on the pitch and this regarded to be the icing on a very bitter cake as the youngster’s torrid time at the membership continued.

His confidence have to be shot to pieces and perhaps a cross to Celtic ought to do him the world of good. With the quantity of chances Celtic creates, Silva might also fancy rebuilding his career and self assurance in Paradise.

A loan deal is extra in all likelihood if a go used to be ever to take place as Celtic could now not have enough money to pay the kind of outlay that Wolves did on the striker.

And with his income at £42k per week [SalarySport], Celtic ought to cowl that quantity easily. This is one we will watch closely as the January window nears.

CCV Asks Football Fans And Teammates To Avoid The “Emotional” Side Of The Game

Celtic centre-back Cameron Carter-Vickers returned to the starting lineup on Saturday afternoon against Hearts. His presence, though, couldn’t forestall a 2-0 loss to the Jambos.

Post-match, the American admitted his teammates and the followers need to stay away from the emotive aspect of the game: “The emotion is understandable”, he stated (Football Scotland). “When you lose a recreation that’s how we sense as players and that’s how the fans feel as well. But there is no factor searching at a game in an emotional state. You’ve acquired to seem at it clear-headed, continue to be as calm as you can and try to improve.”

For followers who invest their lives into the club, it is challenging not to get impassioned. Celtic supporters care about the soccer club to a great extent and demand the best.

Because of this, matters can also inevitably turn sour at Parkhead when the Hoops do not win games they have to be taking all three points from.

The players, though, will stay calm, in accordance to Carter-Vickers. Despite this, there is no doubt that their performances and effects need to get better quickly, starting in opposition to Livingston this weekend.

“Careful what you wish for” by Neil Lennon Celtic issues a warning to enraged supporters

Neil Lennon has warned furious Celtic supporters be “careful what they wish for”.

The former Celtic boss defended the Parkhead hierarchy as he spoke back to the poisonous surroundings that brewed at some stage in the loss to Hearts.

Supporters have been left indignant as dreams from Lawrence Shankland and Stephen Kingsley condemned Celtic to defeat.

Chants of ‘sack the board’ and ‘Lawwell get to f***’ were then heard interior the stadium as tempers flared.

However, Lennon recommended there is no want for any overreaction in spite of the team performing under expectations on a handful of events so some distance this season.

On PLZ Soccer, Lennon explained: “I do not assume there may be any need to panic. You look at the record and it is the first time in ten years they’ve lost back-to-back video games and the first time they’ve misplaced at home in fifty two It’s a truely excessive bar and information are there to be broken.

“But you have to say the level of overall performance isn’t what we expect from Celtic at the minute so they’re going to have to dig deep and galvanise each person around. The fans need to see that the group is going thru a bit of adversity and this is when the team and the manager need their support, rather than the other way around.

“I know there was some dissent towards the board, which I do not understand due to the fact they’ve just won a Treble closing year. Since Dermot’s come in it is been whole domination for 20 strange years; six Trebles, Europa Leagues, three remaining 16s, I should go on.

“So from time to time you’ve got obtained to be cautious what you wish for. But at the minute, it’s now not good. There’s a lack of consistency and I assume Brendan’s waiting for the January switch window. Currently, he has to roll up his sleeves and get more out of this team.”

‘A very strong possibility,’ Celtic will sign competition for the 26-year-old in January, according to Stephen McGowan

With much less than two weeks for the January switch window to open, Stephen McGowan believes Celtic are about to make a good sized move.

The Daily Mail journalist used to be asked what he concept about Celtic strengthening this iciness when he claimed that they could be about to sing a participant to give Greg Taylor some much-needed competition.

McGowan said [PLZ Soccer], “I assume they will.  I mean I think the Portuguese guy, Tiago Araujo who performs for Estoril who is a former Benfica player, I suppose he’s a very sturdy opportunity for Celtic in January.

“He’s a left wing-back, he can get forward whether he can shield is a question of course, but I suspect that’s one that may happen.”

TBR Celtic told how there used to be a feeling that Celtic should be about to replace Alexandro Bernabei in January as the Argentine has failed to make any form of impact on the crew due to the fact his £3.75m pass ultimate summer.

However, I would propose that if Celtic have been to attempt and signal Araujo, it would be with a view to becoming a normal starter for Brendan Rodgers.

Much has been made of the fact that the left flank of Celtic was uncovered in Europe and in the Scottish Premiership and Rodgers would do well to tackle that alternatively than later.

Tiago Araujo for Celtic?

The Portuguese fullback is 22 years ancient and has two caps for the u21 team. A product of the Benfica adolescence system, he made simply one look for the first team.

A short spell at Arouca allowed Araujo to make a in addition 16 first-team outings earlier than he secured a everlasting move to Estoril.

In two seasons at the club, the versatile full-back who can additionally play as a winger, has made 49 appearances scoring three goals and growing 4 assisting his team to a contemporary mid-table function in the league. [Transfermarkt]

Is he the player that could Celtic forward? A lot about this go screams every other undertaking however I’m hoping this is one that Rodgers has identified as one who ought to instantly improve what Celtic already have at the club.

“Absolutely frightening”: Pundit is astonished by the term “exceptional.” £14k per week Celtic star

Celtic have a wide variety of gamers who have actual actual pleasant about them. Callum McGregor is one name that springs to idea as does Kyogo Furuhashi.

But there is one that has truly caught the eye of pundit, Leanne Crichton. After the 23-year-old’s overall performance towards Feyenoord, Crichton used to be in entire awe of Matt O’Riley as he had a helping hand in Gustaf Lagerbielke’s 90th-minute winner.

Crichton stated [The Go Radio Football Show], “I want to say, Matt O’Riley, certainly frightening. The levels, the performances that he’s producing right now are absolutely outstanding.

“He’s a pleasure to watch. The moments of magic that he’s produced in games of late has been exceptional.”

O’Riley has been receiving lots of plaudits for his performances this season. His transformation under Brendan Rodgers has been outstanding to watch.

Don’t get me wrong, under Ange Postecoglou, O’Riley was once extraordinary but he seems to have elevated so a whole lot beneath Rodgers and added so a lot more to his game.

Adding goals, the Danish global has grow to be one of Celtic’s most risky players. His vision and passing potential also make him an necessary section of the Hoops attack.

Defensively, O’Riley also places in a shift. He tracks back, makes tackles and covers each and every blade of grass as he helps out the Celtic returned four.

He clearly is a laptop in the coronary heart of the Celtic team and it is little marvel he is attracting the attention of the likes of Liverpool, Borussia Dortmund and Crystal Palace.

But with O’Riley signing a new five-year deal in the summer, it is clear that he is joyful and content material at Celtic.

And why wouldn’t he be? He’s enjoying regularly, triumphing trophies and getting to play Champions League football. Also, he is being paid as an alternative handsomely for the privilege at £14k per week. [SalarySport]

“Not a very happy man.” A reporter for the BBC saw what Arne Slot did just before the Celtic-Feyenoord match

From Diego Simeone to Arne Slot. There have been a few unhappy campers in Celtic’s opposition dugout in the Champions League this season.

Celtic deservedly secured a 2-1 win over Feyenoord in the Champions League on Wednesday, however it got here with Arne Slot’s annoyance.

It appears as although the Feyenoord educate was steaming before his team conceded a penalty, which likely didn’t assist matters.

Luis Palma opened the scoring for Celtic, with the aid of the penalty spot, when Liam Scales used to be wrestled down in the area.

According to a BBC reporter, Arne Slot was once in ‘deep conversation’ with the fourth official and complaining about one element or another.

Then the penalty used to be awarded and it used to be brought that Arne Slot was ‘not a completely happy man’, as a end result of it all.

In the end, Celtic sealed the points, and unlike a certain Diego Simeone, he did shake Brendan Rodgers’ hands after the match.

Feyenoord boss Arne Slot

“Feyenoord manager Arne Slot is now not a completely satisfied man,” said a BBC reporter.

“Moments before the penalty award he was deep in dialog with the fourth professional complaining about something, then came the penalty award and that virtually didn’t help his mood.”

Celtic ease the pressure

At least there will be no speak of Celtic’s winless run in Europe from other parts of the media now.

It will probably turn into ‘Only one win in…’. from next season!

On a serious note, beforehand of the Champions League altering its format, this win came at the right time and it simply sparks some faith back into the system.

The alternate of layout in the Champions League, from an basic perspective, wasn’t probable needed due to the fact don’t fix something that’s now not broken.

But, hopefully, this bodes nicely for Celtic in the long run and the wins in Europe can begin staking up.

‘Outstanding’: Now, Neil Lennon reveals his pick for Celtic’s Player of the Season thus far

One element Celtic’s win over Feyenoord seems to have executed is to have lit a hearth below the Celtic player’s backsides.

Every single one of them was once exceptional throughout the total ninety minutes at Celtic Park and each single one of them have to keep their heads high.

But only one of them absolutely impressed former Celtic boss Neil Lennon. The Irishman used to be speaking after the game and recalling Matt O’Riley‘s role in the winning goal, Lennon stated that he is the first-rate player in Scotland proper now.

Lennon said [TNT Sports], “Has been unbelievable this season. I suppose that’s his 1/3 help now in the campaign.

“Domestically he has been scoring each week in the Premier League.

“Goals and assists he has been the most tremendous player for Celtic this year and possibly the excellent participant in Scotland this season.

“That used to be a piece of class. That used to be actual proper first-rate there.”

There is no denying that O’Riley is a one of a kind talent. The Celtic midfielder has been exceptional for Brendan Rodgers now not solely on the home scene but also in Europe.

Against Atletico Madrid, O’Riley was named the Man of the Match as he helped reap a creditable draw in opposition to the La Liga side. And closing night time against Feyenoord, his performance was once truly flawless.

His desires and assists throughout all competitions have kept Celtic as the team to watch in the league and Scottish Cup this season.

With another three games to go until the New Year, the Celtic followers will be hoping that O’Riley can continue his top notch form and hold Celtic rooted firmly at the top of the league.

Now that Europe is over, O’Riley can listen on domestic enterprise as he appears to assist Celtic win their 0.33 league title in a row.

‘Different to what I’m used to’: Feyenoord great reveals he had trouble with the £4 million Celtic star

Feyenoord defender Thomas Beelen admits he struggled with the movement of Kyogo Furuhashi at some stage in Wednesday’s 2-1 Champions League defeat to Celtic.

Despite The Hoops celebrating their first win in Europe’s premiere club competition in 15 attempts, it used to be any other night of frustration for Celtic’s talismanic centre-forward.

Kyogo Furuhashi has now scored just once in his last eleven games, Brendan Rodgers struggling to get the equal tune out of the Japan international after two years orchestrating Ange Postecoglou’s Parkhead symphony.

But still, Beelen will have been thrilled to see the returned of Furuhashi, the forward’s movement as sharp as ever even if his finishing stays rather wayward.

Celtic beat Feyenoord in Champions League

“He made a few appropriate runs, which was once specific from what I am used to,” Beelen tells RTL7, Celtic. I had to get used to it, however I obtained better and better in the match.”

Celtic triumphed 2-1 on the night. The roar which greeted Gustaf Lagerbielke’s stoppage time winner proving that this used to be anything however a ‘dead rubber’ for these on the Parkhead terraces, even if Celtic were already consigned to bottom vicinity in the group.

“How am I (feeling) standing here? With an unpleasant feeling, because we have won,” Beelen adds. “Personally, it was once a satisfactory moment for me (to play away at Celtic).

“But I don’t feel that way now.”

This was Celtic’s ultimate European game of the season, their fourth-place end that means that the Glasgow giants do no longer even have the consolation prize of Europa League soccer after Christmas.

Rodgers, meanwhile, is keen to simplify Kyogo’s game, encouraging the £4 million signing from Vissel Kobe to avoid losing deep and as a substitute center of attention on finding pockets of house in and around the penalty box.

Rodgers desires greater from Kyogo Furuhashi

“We went via his video stuff the different week. We looked in particular at the truth I don’t need him losing in so much. When you’re enjoying in a lot of games where teams are sat deep, you don’t get a kick of the ball actually until it comes into the box,” Rodgers tells the Daily Record.

“So what do you do? You begin wandering. His power is his penetration. That’s his strength, running in in the back of and timing his runs. You have to make 10 runs possibly to solely get in once, however that’s your job as a striker.

“So there’s been nothing modified in that. There’s been truly nothing exclusive asked of him because his energy is enjoying off the final line, timing his movements and being instinctive in the box.

“He’s no longer a dribbler, he’s not any one who does drop in. He can do it however it’s now not his strength. And that’s always the undertaking for a striker who wishes to affect games. But he’s very receptive. He’s not a baby, remember, he’s 28 years of age.”

‘Exceptional’: Joleon Lescott stunned with £1 million Celtic player in tonight’s victory over Feyenoord

It lookedl ike any other night of so shut but, yet again, so a long way for Celtic in the Champions League tonight.

Once again Brendan Rodgers‘ side’s incapacity to preserve the backdoor shut in the closing stages of a European recreation regarded like it was going to come returned and chunk them on the backside.

1-0 up and searching comfortable, Celtic allowed the Dutch side to get lower back into the recreation as Hyeongyu Oh was bullied off the ball in midfield and Alistair Johnston was dragged out of role which allowed Yankuba Minteh to slot domestic an 82nd-minute equaliser to leave Joe Hart helpless.

Which is a shame due to the fact if every person deserved to be on the winning side, it was once the £1m signing from Tottenham Hotspur. And he was after Gustaf Lagerbielke nodded home the point-blank winner in the 90th minute.

Hart pulled off some fundamental saves to preserve Celtic beforehand last night and he significantly impressed former England international defender, Joleon Lescott.

Joe Hart redeems himself for Celtic vs Feyenoord

The English stopper has come under some extreme criticism over the previous few weeks but he definitely redeemed himself with his performance tonight.

Lescott stated [TNT Sports], “Arguably this would have been one of the pleasant dreams of the competition so a ways but just offside. Probably ought to do better with the offside in phrases of searching throughout the line and looking ahead to the place the centre-backs are.

“He [Luis Giminez] can’t make his run off the fullback due to the fact he’s at the back of him however a steady threat strolling behind and he’s any individual that’s has been cozy in front of goal but Joe Hart’s been exceptional.”

Despite conceding, Hart made three important saves at integral stages of the sport which ought to have seen the result go some other way.

Hart was once extremely good and deserves all the plaudits coming his way for this performance.

“You have to do more” James McFadden responds to Brendan Rodgers’ public comments about Celtic star

James McFadden has weighed in on the situation involving Celtic winger, Mikey Johnston.

Brendan Rodgers took an fascinating step in deciding to publicly critique the player after Celtic’s 4-1 win over Hibernian ultimate week.

Someone like Chris Sutton was ’surprised’ by the Celtic manager’s methods, whilst others suppose it’s in reality a challenge.

As James McFadden pointed out, the truth that Mikey Johnston began the 2-1 defeat towards Kilmarnock on Sunday proves that Brendan Rodgers is actually trying to push the player, as he told Sky Sports Football (10/12/23 at 11:40 am).

The former Scotland global introduced that Mikey Johnston is being requested to do more with and barring the ball due to the fact it’s some distance exclusive than when he is being requested when he comes off the bench.

The 24-year-old has commenced only two games this season and likely hasn’t produced the results he would have preferred from a non-public perspective.

There have been instances this season when he has come off the bench, including in the Champions League and he has seemed impressive.

But as James McFadden pointed out, they are two distinctive worlds.

Brendan Rodgers’ venture to Mikey Johnston

“I’d rather not have any criticism, if I am being flawlessly honest,” stated McFadden.

“What Brendan Rodgers is doing Is telling Mikey Johnston that coming on as a sub is specific to beginning the game.

“When you come on, the sport is open and you have the freedom to do what it takes to get your group back in the recreation or have an impact in the game. When you begin the game, it is greater about concentrating on your positional play. When you are going to press. What the needs are.

“I assume had Rodgers had a go at him, then dropped him it would have been a bigger problem here. What he is saying, you are in the crew now and you have to do more. You have to use the ball better. Make better decisions.”

Celtic v Feyenoord

The difficulty for Johnston now is that he will probable be dropped for Wednesday’s Champions League clash towards Feyenoord.

And that will likely then lead to him being in the equal state of affairs in opposition to Hearts at the weekend.

On one hand, his performances haven’t been properly enough, but he ought to rightfully argue that he wishes greater minutes to surely get his engine going because he is nonetheless probable lacking that sharpness.

Johnston’s problem is that he has had plenty of probabilities earlier than and in the pressure cooker of Celtic, you ain’t given a great deal time.

“We want the fans to have something to be happy about when they return home. “Brendan Rodgers”

“We choose to do the whole lot we can to supply the supporters a performance and a result,” Brendan Rodgers…

Q: Where are Daizen Maeda and Cameron Carter-Vickers in phrases of their health and involvement?

Brendan Rodgers: “They won’t be concerned tomorrow however for the weekend they will hopefully be available. ”

Q: In phrases of your conventional approach, how do you balance this sport with essential home matches?

Brendan Rodgers: “Our attitude to the recreation is precisely the same, it’s to go and win the game by playing our way. I think we confirmed at the weekend that once we trade from that we don’t have the identical features and it’s no longer playing to our strengths. We want to go and play the sport we favor to play, we comprehend we are taking part in a excellent facet but it’s our last recreation at home and we desire to do the whole thing we can to provide the supporters a overall performance and result.”

Q: Does the co-efficient come into your wondering in a game like this?

Brendan Rodgers: “No. It’s based on how you are doing in the present. If we are successful at this level then that tags on but subsequently we are here to do the very great for Celtic and if we can achieve points and wins then of route that will always enhance the standing.”

Q: Does this supply you an probability to take a look at fringe players at this level?

Brendan Rodgers: “Because of the situation we have with accidents and with all the games we’ve had before and after this game, it gives opportunities for players to play and I assume that’s… By the time we reach January a lot of players will have had the threat to play games, and video games via all the degrees and then be assessed from there. Whatever group we put out at Celtic it’s to win.

“There’s no gifts. No free games. You need to win and even though, disappointingly there’s nothing to play for in terms of Europe after Christmas we are still playing for satisfaction right here so we will have a crew tomorrow looking to combat for the result.”

Q: What’s the response been like to the end result in opposition to Killie?

Brendan Rodgers: “It’s in most cases been restoration to be fair. We acquired returned in and analysed the game. The beauty and super cost of the recreation at the weekend is that we recognize the place the issues were. A bit like the St Johnstone game, the intensity wasn’t right. We fixed that however sadly for us, we didn’t play with the poise we wished to play with in the second half in our league game. But at least we see that and we can take the getting to know into the recreation tomorrow.”

Q: Can what you do tomorrow give you belief for subsequent season?

Brendan Rodgers: “It’s nonetheless such a lengthy way to go. Come this time next yr the squad might appear a lot one of a kind again. You can only deal with the present and for us it’s about going and performing and playing to the stage we recognize we can consistently. We’ve finished that in spells in this competition the place we have played some certainly high-level football but you have to do that consistently. If you can do it constantly with that quality it will constantly give you a chance of breaking through.”

Q: If you win, can it spur you on domestically?

Brendan Rodgers: “Every win usually improves confidence, but either way, whatever the result we will go into the sport against Hearts honestly centered on getting a result. We will make that breakthrough at some factor in the close to future. It would be a magnificent area to begin to do that the next day but anything the end result we will go into the weekend’s game honestly centered on getting returned to velocity in the league.”

Q: What do you expect from Feyenoord?

Brendan Rodgers: “Jiminez may play. He didn’t in the first recreation and he’s a very gifted striker and has executed simply properly for them. They are a sturdy side. We noticed their quality and played truly nicely in the first half. You can see the physicality in the team and they have a honestly high level of approach and a desirable understanding. Arnie Slot has performed well there and is a genuinely true instruct so it’s a large project however we enjoy that. Any sport in the Champions League is a big game and we appreciate that. It’s our final sport in the competition and we desire to give the followers some thing to go domestic glad about.”

Q: How is Reo Hatate getting on?

Brendan Rodgers: “We assume at this moment in time his recuperation will be into January but he’s doing very well. We verify that as every day goes by.”

Q: You seem at pinnacle groups over the Champions League level, even in your first spell when you had Scott Brown as a bodily presence in midfield who should do the soiled work and permit gamers to push on forward. Is that a player you would like to bring to the membership in the January window or shifting forward to the summer time window?

Brendan Rodgers: “I suppose it’s usually about stability in midfield. For me, the importance of prevailing the ball is a collective, it’s not simply one player. Scott was once extremely good in my time here. We performed with a physical player at the weekend and lost, so it’s all about the balance in your team. I said when I first got here in that with a bit of luck the identity of this group will have power, strength, creativity and velocity over the path of my time here. We’re working closer to that. Technical capability is very important but being aggressive is equally vital in all factors of the pitch.”

Q: The final win in a Champions League sport was once when you were here as manager. How outstanding an success would it be for you once more to information Celtic to every other Champions League win the following day night?

Brendan Rodgers: “It would be great, but extra so for the supporters that have been ready a lengthy time. The Anderlecht recreation was a brilliant win for us and we played truely well in the game. The crew has gone close on activities but it would be pleasant to make that result. It’s more for all and sundry than a non-public achievement. This is a sincerely challenging opposition for a group like ourselves but we always dream and have the ambition to do well. Whilst we’re competing with the shit we’ll continually fight for the result.”

Jessica Elliott – The Celtic Star: Are there any particular things from the relaxation of the team stage games that you’ll be looking to improve on for tomorrow night? Callum McGregor said that you want to be switched on for ninety minutes however is there whatever else that you’ve worked on in coaching that will assist you get a higher result tomorrow?

Brendan Rodgers: “I suppose in terms of these games, I’ve constantly stated they’re games about belief. Callum’s virtually right from a intellectual point of view your concentration is so important. The technical level of players right here capacity they can get via the pitch very quickly, and all of a unexpected they’re in on your back-line. Lots of teams at this level have excellent at the front quit of the pitch so that concentration is important. When you have the ball, it’s all about having that belief and the poise to look after the ball and to attack with speed, however also to be able to play at tempo.

“That’s some thing we continually intention to do here within the team. Most importantly, as quickly as the whistle goes then you go and attack the game, and that is when we are at our best. We’ve shown that right here on a number of games and when we do that, we seem a simply proper side. You comprehend within the game that you have to defend and you’re going to have to be strong, with a little bit of luck alongside the way. If you can do that, then with any luck you can have a terrific night.”

Jessica Elliott – The Celtic Star: The performances in the Champions League have been good, but you perhaps don’t have the points to show for it. What are the positives that you can take from this marketing campaign going into the next one?

Brendan Rodgers: “I look thru each sport and there have been spells where I’ve been honestly happy with things, like the begin in Feyenoord right up to half-time when we lose a poor goal. The Lazio sport here we should have taken something from that game and didn’t. That awareness lapse fee us. The Madrid game at home was a certainly correct overall performance and a in reality thrilling sport in opposition to a surely true side.

“We’ve shown that we can not simply compete but our footballing capacity too. It’s simply about sustaining that, and you can’t drop off in your next games. Madrid away used to be a tough nighttime for us, and when you lose a player at that stage the opposition can punish you, and they did. I’ve viewed a lot in a lot of the video games to be aware of that if we maintain enhancing our experience and seem to enhance the squad then we with any luck can make another step forward.”

Q: Just to contact on recruitment, in the summer season window you signed nine new gamers and at the weekend only two of them began in Palma and Phillips whose mortgage deal finishes soon. In the previous fixture, only Palma started. Looking back, would you say you were comfy with the summer time activity, and are you confident going forward in January that you’ll be in a position to get the first crew geared up gamers that you noted in terms of journey and quality?

Brendan Rodgers: “I don’t need to appear back. The gamers were signed and are in here. They are players that can also not be for now but may be gamers that down the line come to be truely exact gamers for Celtic. when you’re coming into a membership like Celtic, at 20 years of age it can be a real challenge. The adaption of coming to any other us of a can be tough.

“Those guys have signed lengthy contracts, and hopefully, in that time they can show that they can be Celtic players. Looking forward, we want to enhance the squad, and I assume we’ll do that one way with gamers coming again that can show influential for us and hopefully, if there’s the right gamers available we can improve in key areas that we would like to.”

Q: In the European campaign, you have competed properly in the majority of games. Do you have a message for Celtic fans that you experience that you can be the one to take the membership forward and growth in phrases of knockout football?

Brendan Rodgers: “I without a doubt can due to the fact it’s the very cause I got here back. I got here returned here to lead the club domestically to endured success and additionally into Europe where we all want to wreck this barrier and bridge this hole which is a in reality challenging challenge but it’s what I’ve usually performed in my career. I picked the undertaking to come right here and optimistically take us forward.

“That’s going to be us all, the supporters, the board, the gamers and myself all being together. Getting the right players in that can enhance and advance the squad. I have each and every confidence that I can do that over the coming seasons.”