'He helps everyone follow' - O'Riley on Postecoglou's Celtic style

How much are you all looking forward to this double header against Hearts?

Yeah, we are looking forward to it, like I look forward to all games, and I think we all are. It is quite a unique experience in the sense, obviously, playing the same team twice in three days, which is quite rare, but I'm looking forward to it. 

Given the run that you're on at the moment, now there's a lot of talk about can anyone catch Celtic this season and end that unbeaten run? Do you guys thrive on that and relish that challenge of being the team that no one can beat?

Yeah, to be completely honest, I'm probably giving you a boring answer here, but we are very disinterested in anyone but ourselves. If I'm being honest, that's kind of the mindset and the culture we have kind of clearly tried to focus on what we can do here at the training ground every day and I think the rest just takes care of itself. 

If you could just give us a wee insight into what it's like being a midfielder at the moment, there's so much competition. What's it like in training? There's so many good players in that team at the moment. What's it like? Are you driving each other on? And how competitive is it trying to get one of those three spots in the middle of the park? 

It's good. I think it's always a positive for more competition. You have to be honest, I think people would be lying if they said they don't play their best football when they don't have competition. I think you naturally play better when people are pushing you to perform at a higher level. In that sense, it's definitely positive and from a training perspective, everyone's training well. No one's like salty behind each other's backs. We're all still rooting for the same goal at the end of the day and you know, I think if someone else is doing well, it kind of pushes you to play well as well so there are no problems at all. 

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When you train alongside the likes of Callum McGregor and Reo Hatate and the like have you found that your game improves massively as the competition grows and the wins keep coming?

I think so. Naturally, the more confident we are as a team, we would probably play better but I think the message has been since the break to really try to push on and like take ourselves to a new level. I think we've probably done that for the most part. We've conceded hardly any goals, which has been a massive plus that kind of just allows our creative players to play with a bit more freedom because we don't have to worry so much about conceding that many goals which has been positive.

It's going to be 100 games under the manager tomorrow night. Just give us an insight into what he's like to work with and what do you feel he brings to to the club and to the players?

First and foremost, I think the football probably speaks for itself. I think the football we play is quite unique in terms of kit being attractive to watch, but at the same time very effective. So he's definitely brought that to the club. As players I think he gives us real clarity on our roles within the system and the structure, so I think you know specifically when you're a new player and you come in, it's very easy to adapt which in a lot of clubs it's not easy to do. I think that's easier said than done. So having someone to lead and delegate roles to other staff members so the message is really clear. I think he's very good at that. He is a good leader within the club, which kind of helps everyone follow. 

How would you describe the the culture at the club? Clearly it's a winning culture, but I just mean in terms of a place to be and a place to work and a place to thrive?

That's a good question, I think. To be honest, the most important thing we have here is just good people. Everyone in the team gets on very well, which I think in football is rare to find. I've said before, but I feel as though pretty much every player in the team could go out and have dinner together and everyone would get along, which I think is a real asset that we have and I think that kind of translates onto the pitch as well. I think that's kind of the main part of our culture on top of that we've obviously got the winning mentality, which comes from the top of the club from people like Callum McGregor, like Joe Hart, experienced players that kind of give that energy out to other people. So naturally, every day we work really hard and everyone's kind of moving towards the same goal in a sense. 

You mentioned playing Hearts twice in a week. Obviously there will may be a few changes. In the last few weeks you have been on the bench a bit more often. Do you have to seize the moment every time you come on or is it a different thing for you to be making an impact of the bench as well?

Yeah, I think so. I think you also approach every game the same, though I think that's the most important thing. Whether you're on the bench or whether you are starting. You've got to be ready to play anytime. You know, someone could get injured, unfortunately, or something could happen where you need to come on earlier than expected so I think most importantly you have to be ready regardless of whether you are starting or playing. Obviously, the way we play as well, I think a lot of the times in games in the last half an hour the opposition tend to be quite tired as well, so there's usually quite a lot of space and gaps that open up. So if you are ready and you are focused there's definitely chances to impact the game. Now, of course you'd like to start every game, but at the same time, we know we've got a lot of healthy competition here, so it's not always the case, but at the same time, you've always got to be ready. 

Obviously, Hearts have given you a couple of tough games during your time here. What's your thoughts about playing against them? 

It's another game. If I'm being honest, it's another game. If we play the football that we know we can, then I think we'll be just fine. Away games tend to be probably a bit more difficult against them because they've got naturally quite a hostile atmosphere, but at the same time, if we remain calm like we can do, then I think we'll be OK. 

You are talking about Hearts just being another game, but do you enjoy playing against the other top teams in the country? Do you thrive playing in the big occasions like cup quarter-finals, the team's third place in the league? 

I think so, you enjoy the so-called bigger games from the outside, I guess. People could say they get more up for them. I don't know to be completely honest. As long as I'm playing football I'm going to enjoy it regardless, so if it's against bottom of the league or if it's against Rangers I still think your approach has to be the same because otherwise the performance could easily differ massively. Saying that, of course, playing Rangers in a cup final, for example, is the game that you're naturally going to be very up for. 

How about your own game? Two goals in your last four matches? Obviously, you have been out of the team a bit, starting on the bench a bit, but starting to produce goals, how do you feel you're playing? Where do you think you are at the moment? 

I think I'm in a good place mentally, which is the most important thing. The rest usually takes care of itself when the mental side is good. And I feel like I'm in a good place physically and mentally, like I've just said, so no complaints from me as I'm feeling good. 

Just shortly before your spell on the bench, more recently you were playing really well, especially when Callum McGregor was injured playing in that deeper position. When you did find yourself out of the team, how has it affected you and how tough has that been? 

Yeah, of course. I'd like to play probably a bit more than I have, naturally. I think sometimes there's things away from football as well, which people may not see. That can also affect you at times, so I understand from a fans perspective they only see what happens on the pitch, which is completely fair enough but if something's happening elsewhere, then sometimes that also plays plays a part in your mentally. I think I'm in a much better place now than I was probably during that time. I've learned a lot, to be honest, having pretty much like you said been pretty much a regular for most of the season and then not playing a little bit so I've learned a lot. Especially mentally , because it's obviously difficult when you go from that expectation of playing all the time to maybe not playing as much but to be honest, I feel like right now it's probably in the best place I've been in a long time, so I think you know those experiences of not playing and having tough times away from the pitch they definitely shape you into being a better person. 

Yeah, just touching on the fact you have scored two goals in four games, you're playing well off the bench and given the fact you playing the same opposition twice in a week, there might be some squad rotation. Do you think this is now potentially your opportunity to get yourself back in with a shot of starting?

I think every game is an opportunity, even if I'm starting or not starting to get back into the team. If I'm being honest the way we play in the last half an hour, games really do open up so you can you do have a chance to really show yourself. And yeah, I think I've probably done that in recent games, so that's been positive. Now at the same time, I'm not worried about becoming a starter or a regular or however, you want to phrase it and kind of more just focus on what I'm doing and what I can do to be able to affect the game in a positive way. 

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New players such as Oh Hyeon-gyu and Alistair Johnson are now beginning to lead the celebrations after the victories at the end of the games, despite only being at the club for a matter of months. What do you think that says about the chemistry of the group that the new boys feel so comfortable in doing that?

Yeah, I think it speaks for itself. Like I said earlier about the culture in terms of bringing in good people, those two are the perfect examples of really good people. You know, Ali's a really chatty, friendly guy and to be honest Oh is as well as much as his English is not perfect he is really making an effort to speak with boys and kind of adapt to the UK culture, so I think a lot of the boys have taken to him really quickly and hopefully the fans do as well. 

You're now starting to score goals this season to go along with your many assists in the league. How happy are you that you're accumulating both types of goal contributions in your game? 

Yeah, of course I'd probably haven't scored as many as I would have liked this season like you said, so it's nice to add that back into to my game a bit. I think that's probably come from worrying about scoring a bit less if I'm being honest. When you kind of put too much pressure on yourself to achieve an outcome the chances of it happening are probably a lot less, but yeah, regardless, I'm not actually too fussed if I score or assist as long as I just play well and as long as the team is is winning like we are doing then I'm pretty content.