Kieran Tierney spoke to the media ahead of today’s trip to Tynecastle where Celtic will be looking to avenge the 4-0 defeat suffered at this ground in December which ended the record breaking run of matches without defeat for Brendan Rodgers’ side.
The first thing he spoke about was the constant transfer speculation – the latest club that have been linked with a move for KT is Bournemouth. He isn’t really that bothered by all of that and just wants to enjoy playing for Celtic.
“Speculation has happened during most windows since I broke through. It’s good for me.
“If somebody wants to buy you that means you are doing something right. When big teams are looking at you it’s flattering.
“It doesn’t bother me or distract me because I’m enjoying myself. I’m playing for Celtic so I’m happy.
“I’m not in any rush at all. I had four years left on my last contract and if I wanted to leave I would have chosen to run that down.
“Instead, when the club offered me six I was happy to sign.”
Tierney was in a bar in Tenerife with his Celtic team-mates on Wednesday night watching the Roma v Liverpool Champions League semi final, second leg and Tierney was cheering on his pal and Scotland colleague Andy Robertson.
The Bhoys would also have been delighted for the other former Celt, Virgil van Dijk who has made a huge difference to Liverpool since his arrival at Anfield in January.
“We all went out and watched the game the other night and it was brilliant to see Andy get to the final.
“From where he’s come from it’s just such a great story. He deserves everything he’s getting at the moment. He’s playing for one of the biggest clubs on the biggest stage there is and doing so well.
“I’ve been sending him messages throughout Liverpool’s run but I’ve no doubt his phone was going off its nut after Wednesday night so I’ll catch up with him soon.
“I look at Andy and I see an opportunity to learn. We both play the same position but he does things that I can be better at and so it’s great to train with him when we meet up with Scotland.
“I don’t get jealous of him. For a start I just feel happy for him. And, also I’m only 20. He is a few years older than me so he has that extra experience.
“He’s playing at a level I have not reached but I have had some great experiences here at Celtic too.
“Playing in the Champions League group stages has brought my game on and hopefully we can get there again next season. It’s such a hard thing to do and this year it’s going to be tougher with the extra round of games.
“It takes a lot out of you.
“It’s a really tough schedule, there’s a lot of travelling and there is no room for mistakes. But we need to deal with it.”
Tierney will be part of a squad rotation over the remaining three league games in the next seven days as Brendan Rodgers gets his squad ready for Hampden and the chance to win the Scottish Cup and complete an historic double treble. KT realises the significance of that.
“It’s never been done twice in a row because it’s so hard to remain so consistent over two years.
“We are in a great position and have only one game to go. We are looking forward to the Cup Final, but there’s still a few league games to play first.
“We’re at Tynecastle and they will be up for that after beating us there last time. We don’t want to take our foot off the gas because we will want momentum going into the cup final.”
Even after the cup final the footballing demands on Tierney don’t end there – Scotland have those two summer friendlies in Peru and Mexico – although it is believed that he is likely to be excused, along with James Forrest, at the insistence of Brendan Rodgers.
“It’s been the most intense season yet for me and my body. I’ve played 50 odd games and, at 20, that’s not an easy thing to do.
“But if I’m picked for Scotland I would always want to play. It’s not my call and it’s not for me to say what should happen.
“It will be the Scotland manager’s decision and I’m sure he will speak to our gaffer too.”
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