On August 26, the news broke that the Celtic faithful had been dreading. Matt O’Riley had secured a move to Brighton for an initial fee of £25 million, with potential add-ons reaching £30 million. Yet, it was hardly unexpected. In a window-long saga, they had rejected multiple bids from Atalanta but when the seagulls came calling and matched the evaluation set by Brendan Rodgers, there was only going to be one outcome.
If you asked any Celtic fan at the end of last season, O’Riley’s departure felt certain. The story had played out before. Whether it was Moussa Dembele, Kristoffer Ajer, Odsounne Edouard or Jota ; the list goes on. Players come to the club at a young age, develop and reach a ceiling that respectfully transcends the Scottish game. They then move on for a hefty fee and the team search for a replacement.
When he left there were fears. How do you replace the thirty-seven goals and assists he contributed last season? Yet, truthfully that’s an over-simplification. If you have a strong system, the chances will fall to someone else, and if they are of substantial quality, they will find the net. This has been proven, as since O’Riley has left Celtic have become no less efficient in front of goal.
Paulo Bernardo Fills the Void
His Gamestyle Suits the Bigger Stage
It’s tough to say whether the Portuguese player fills in as a direct replacement for O’Riley, he’s a different style of player. Yet what has been shown in the previous two weeks is that a midfield consisting of Callum McGregor, Paulo Bernardo and Reo Hatate is no worse off.
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The style of player he is was revealed with the style of games he excelled in last term. In the early stages of his Celtic career, he played frequently on the European stage but was favoured by David Turnbull domestically, at the time it was a head-scratcher for many fans. However, this should have been little surprise.
His qualities out of possession are immense, meanwhile with the ball at his feet he is safe. He rarely misplaces a pass and links up play well. All this helped against tougher opposition. In terms of breaking down low blocks though he was still to show he had the necessary attacking tools.
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He really announced himself in December of 2023. He produced a man-of-the-match performance at home to Rangers, bagging a memorable goal in the process. He also assisted Adam Idah in a three-three draw at Ibrox months later, and played a pivotal role in the Irishman’s last-minute Cup Final winner.
All his best moments have come on the big stage, it suits his makeup. He flourishes in the battle.
Comparing to O’Riley
Naturally, he will be compared to O’Riley and there are elements he eclipses the Dane in but also elements where he is inferior. That’s the nature of a different type of player. Off the ball, he is more effective than the new Brighton midfielder.
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He is stronger in tackle and has better defensive awareness. Although on the ball he isn’t as incisive. He doesn’t see the picture as quickly and rarely plays the one-touch switches the Dane so often did.
A Glasgow Derby Masterclass
Bernado’s performance at the weekend will ease any ugly pictures Celtic fans have conjured up of life post-O’Riley. Off the ball he was astounding. The Portuguese midfielder won twelve of his duels and suffocated the Rangers midfield. On the ball, he was just as effective.
Some sections of the Hoops’ support have previously voiced a lack of belief in his attacking intent, yet he made three key passes on Sunday afternoon. This was tied with Alastair Johnson and Daizen Maeda for most in the match. For context, a key pass leads to a shot or creates an opportunity for another player to assist a goal.
He was unlucky not to score with a neat piece of footwork allowing him to create space in the box, as his shot was comfortably saved by Jack Butland.
Tactically, he was a perfect fit for the occasion. He often dropped deep during the build-up allowing McGregor to play a more influential role from further forward. This will be particularly helpful on the European stage as it allows for a double pivot to be formed, giving Celtic more protection in a defensive sense.
New Depth Brings Versatility
The exciting reality for the team is that two additions are waiting on the bench to make an impact on this midfield. Arne Engels joined for a record fee of £11 million from FC Augsburg, plus Luke McCowan left Dundee for around £1 million. The added depth and quality will provide competition for places and give Celtic a variety of systems they can play in.
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For example, the 4-3-3 system will always be their favoured system, but should they wish to switch to a 4-4-2 in-game then McCowan can play as a left-sided midfielder. Or, if they are looking for a more defensive option Arne provides that. A 4-2-3-1 system could have McGregor and Bernardo, but it could just as likely have McGregor and Engels.
Life without O’Riley will be just fine
Since the exit of the Dane, the squad’s performance levels haven’t dropped in the slightest. Moreover, the hefty fee has been re-invested and leaves the side with a much stronger squad than they had before the window began. Especially with the new Champions League format ahead of us, Celtic have a great opportunity to make strides and reach the play-off round. If Sunday is anything to go by, Bernardo will play a crucial role.
