The news that Matt O’Riley was NOT selected for the Denmark squad for the upcoming round of international fixtures surprised many in both Scotland and indeed over in Denmark. The Danish National Coach Kasper Hjulmand explained his reasons for leaving out the Celtic midfielder to Danish magazine Tipsbladet …
Our friends at Danish magazine Tipsbladet spoke to Denmark’s national coach Kasper Hjulmand, and asked him why he decided to leave Celtic midfielder Matt O´Riley out of his squad for their upcoming matches…
Why Matt O`Riley isn´t in the Denmark squad
“Matt is one of those who is very close. He has some offensive qualities, and he’s a bit of a different type from those who are there. There was nothing that scared me (against Northern Ireland), and I like Matt – but I think the six we have selected are better right now,” Kasper Hjulmand said.
From the starting line-up in Belfast to all the way out in the national team cold. Matt O’Riley was not among the 26 players national coach Kasper Hjulmand selected on Tuesday for the upcoming friendlies against Switzerland and the Faroe Islands, and thus it looks more than difficult for the Celtic star to make it to the Euros.
When Denmark was last in action, Matt O’Riley started in midfield in the European Championship qualifier against Northern Ireland, but he, like most of his teammates, did not have a great night in Belfast, where the red-whites lost 0-2.
In the meantime, however, 23-year-old O’Riley has continued the impressive pace at Celtic, where he has been recorded for 11 goals and 14 assists this season. Even so, Kasper Hjulmand has preferred, for example, a Mikkel Damsgaard, who makes almost no effort at Brentford.
Kasper Hjulmand, did Matt O’Riley completely miss the team in Belfast? – “No. Matt is one of those closest to. He has some offensive qualities and he is a slightly different type to those who are there. There was nothing that scared me (against Northern Ireland, ed.) and I like Matt – but I think the six we have selected are better right now,” says Hjulmand.
Matt O’Riley was in January in the spotlight at the Spanish big club Atletico Madrid, and according to Tipsbladet’s information, Diego Simeone and Co. also on the midfielder. Atletico Madrid wanted to rent the Dane for the rest of the current season and then commit to buying Matt O’Riley for DKK 156 million (£18m) this summer. However, that proposal was swept off the table by Celtic, who value Matt O’Riley somewhat higher (£25m plus). The match against Northern Ireland was Matt O’Riley’s debut for the Danish national team.
Back on 8th November, 2023 Kasper Hjulmand said: “It would be a huge gamble to select him for the squad We were super happy to have him with us, and I think he has played good matches since then. Especially the match against Atlético (Madrid) at home was good. He is a different type of midfielder than what we have.”
“He plays higher up in the pocket. He plays very, very close to the attackers. So he is a different type, and I think he has done well. I am completely sure that he is a player we will see a lot more of.”
“The question is whether this is it, I mean the next two matches, where there may not be time to just do something completely new. It would be a big gamble. The first match (against Slovenia) will at least be something familiar, something we really know.”
He is an interesting player
“But Matt is an exciting player, and I think he has made great progress.”
“It’s not like I’m trying to avoid him… quite the opposite. I’ve been following Matt all along. But honestly, if you look at the five midfielders I’ve selected, you’ll have to tell me which one of them shouldn’t be included if he is to be included?”
“But of course, Matt is a fantastic player. I really think he has moved forward. He is growing as the weeks go by.”
What would certainly help Matt’s chances of playing in the European Championships this summer would be to finish this season the way he started it at Celtic, by being head and shoulders, easily the best player in Scottish football. He’s been subdued since the return to action after the short winter break and it would be brilliant for O’Riley, Denmark and most importantly Celtic if he can re-capture that spark that is missing at the moment.
tbf it serves him right. Correct decision imho as MoR is a shadow of his usual self at the moment .. well, since January & the Atletico Madrid nonsense.
Hopefully be the kick up the erse he needs for the title run in