HAVING squared up to the most expensive strikeforce ever assembled in what has been another remarkable season for him, Kieran Tierney was never likely to lose his focus over some pundits’ comments.
It comes as little surprise to learn the assertion made by Paul Ince and Mark Lawrenson – two former players with a limited knowledge of Celtic or Scottish football – on Football Focus that Tierney will have to move on to fulfil his potential has left him unperturbed.
The remarks were picked up by various media outlets and have led to renewed speculation about whether Tierney would be best furthering his career in England.
Yet, the prodigiously talented 20-year-old left back, who signed a six year contract commit-ting himself to Parkhead until 2023 back in October, remains confident he can develop and progress even further in Glasgow.
He argues, with some justification, that pitting himself against Edinson Cavani, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar of Paris Saint-Germain as well as Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Muller of Bayern Munich in the Champions League during the 2017/18 campaign has improved him as a player.
He also feels the fact that Brendan Rodgers’s side has qualified for the last 32 of the Europa League this term – two difficult games against Zenit St Petersburg of Russia await in February – proves that definite strides forward are being made both by him and his side.
Speaking the week after the record-breaking 69 game unbeaten domestic run which Celtic had been on came to an end with a 4-0 hammering by Hearts at Tynecastle, he also defended the quality of competition in the Premiership.
“They’re big names in the game and they have their opinions,” said Tierney. “But I’m sure they know how big Celtic is – everyone does because we’re one of the biggest clubs in the world. I certainly know how big a challenge it is to play here. When you’re expected to win every week it’s difficult.
“I’ve heard a few people talking about what was said and you take it on board. If people criticise you then you just try to get better as a player. For me, it’s about doing all I can to make sure I’m playing at the weekend.”
Asked specifically about Lawrenson’s claim that playing in Scotland is easy for Celtic, he said: “It’s not at all. People probably thought it was because of the way we pressed and played, especially in the manager’s first season. To have gone so long without losing was crazy – that record had lasted for 100 years, after all.
“I don’t know if I’ve improved this season, but I hope so. I hope I have matured on the pitch. It is experience. The more games you play the more you come up against different kinds of players. The Champions League games, the big pressure games, the finals, help you as well.”
Despite big games providing the experience needed for improvement the full-back revealed a big reason why he has show the kind of consistency rarely associated with young players.
“It is hard to do much training just now because we have so many games,” he said, “but any chance I can I will do extra on my weaknesses.”
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