Celtic expert drops damning Matt O’Riley verdict after what he’s seen – ‘It’s a major fault’
Celtic star Matt O’Riley would not be successful if he moved to the Premier League.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, former Hoops and West Ham United striker Frank McAvennie claimed O’Riley, 23, does not have the pace to cope with the English top flight.
The Denmark international has 11 goals and 15 assists to his name this season and was the subject of a loan-to-buy offer from La Liga giants Atletico Madrid in January.
He has also been linked with a move to the Premier League in previous windows, with Football Insider revealing (26 December) that West Ham were one of multiple English sides keeping tabs on the midfielder.
Celtic ace Matt O’Riley too slow for Premier League
McAvennie admitted that O’Riley has “the world at his feet”, but suggested he would be better suited to a move to Italy rather than England.
“If I’m being honest, since that [Atletico Madrid] bid came in, he’s not been great,” he told Football Insider.
“I played for four years in midfield and I’m a great believer that they should not play with their backs to the goal.
“That’s the biggest thing and it’s a major fault of Celtic.
“The midfielders run up and try to get the ball to their feet, but they need to leave that space for the attackers.
“I like O’Riley and I think he has the world at his feet.
“He’s come up here and done brilliantly and he’s a wonderful talent.
“But I don’t know if he’ll move somewhere bigger than Celtic.
“I don’t know if he could do it in the English Premier League because of the pace.
“I don’t know if Matt has that pace even if he has that ability.
“Could he go abroad? Yes, definitely.
“He could hold his own in Serie A because it’s more about tactics than pace.”
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