Following their qualification for next year’s Euros with a 2-1 win over Slovenia, the Denmark national team were allowed to go party in Copenhagen on Saturday evening, which Celtic star Matt O’Riley was involved in.
The midfielder might not have played in that game, but he was part of the squad nonetheless, and he reveals that while he did partake in the festivities, he also went home early for a very good reason.
Speaking to Bold.dk, the Celtic player explained that he received a ‘very special message’ from Denmark national team manager Kasper Hjulmand.
He was told that he would be starting in the game against Northern Ireland on Monday, and O’Riley decided he would need some extra rest ahead of the big day.
The Celtic star said: “He just said that I would play on Monday and then I could kind of mentally prepare myself and be ready. I was very happy. I was with the team in town, but I went home early because I knew I had to play.”
That’s exactly the kind of professional behaviour Hjulmand will have wanted to see from O’Riley, who now boasts a full cap for Denmark.
While Northern Ireland did win, probably much to the delight of Brendan Rodgers, the Celtic man will return to Scotland pretty chuffed with what has been a great start to the campaign for him, as he has scored six goals and assisted another five in 12 Scottish Premiership games.
