MONEY CAN’T BUY ME LOVE!
KIERAN TIERNEY admits it was flattering to be on Football Focus but doesn’t share the same vision as the pundits.
The BBC flagship show did a feature on Celtic’s top talent last weekend and while Mark Lawrenson and Paul Ince were singing the youngster’s praises it came with the usual caveats.
Tierney is a star on the rise but won’t reach his potential until he shakes off the shackles of Scottish football was the Auntie double act’s verdict.
Everyone knows they mean England – the self-appointed greatest league in the world.
The 20-year-old, who didn’t even watch the show until his pals sent him a link, said: “They’re big names in the game and have their opinions.
“But I’m sure they know how big Celtic are – 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 don’t think about it too much because I’m only playing to impress my manager, my family and the fans.
“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.”
The defender loves playing every week for the team he loves but admits he has an eye on the winter break after a brutal first half of the season.
Tierney said: “It will be good to get some time off in
January because the team needs it.
“Since the gaffer came in we’ve been at it solid for 18 months – it has been non-stop. Some of the guys got two weeks in the summer but with the internationals I got eight days. “I honestly think it makes what we achieved all the more remarkable because it has been so full on since the gaffer came in.”
Defender Jozo Simunovic and midfielder Nir Bitton return to the Celtic squad for the visit of Aberdeen on Saturday.
Both players missed the 2-0 Premiership win over Partick Thistle in midweek with knocks. MARVIN COMPPER knew Celtic could feed his appetite for success after Brendan Rodgers invited him round for breakfast.
The 32-year-old was convinced on a £1million move from RB Leipzig after getting a glimpse of the Hoops’ gaffer’s attention to detail.
The clean-living German said: “Brendan invited me round to his house for breakfast. There was a terrific family atmosphere.
“He had muesli, fruit and lactose-free dairy products on the table because he’d specially learned about my dietary habits beforehand.
“Rodgers is someone who draws up clear messages and
PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE
hierarchies in his team. That is something that suits me.
“I have heard there are some pubs for Celtic fans only and others only Rangers supporters can enter. But I’m not a pub-goer so that’s not important.”
Kiillmarnock Today,,112..30pm
GRAEME MURTY admits he’s “staggered” to be offered the chance to land one of the biggest jobs in British football.
The rookie boss revealed his astonishment at the decision of the Rangers board to place him in the hotseat until at least the end of the season.
Murty, 43, could even land the job on a long-term basis in the summer if he maintains a credible challenge to Celtic in the league and lifts the Scottish Cup. The Rangers board turned to their Under-20s coach after Derek Mcinnes knocked back at the job and the candidates’ list drawn up by director of football Mark Allen failed to find a fit.
Murty has earned a bumper pay rise and will oversee recruitment in the January transfer window when up to four new players are expected to arrive as loan star Declan John yesterday signed a three-and-a-half year deal.
Murty said: “I really want to move forward and repay the faith the board have shown in me because I’m staggered they have.
“Why? The scale of the club, its history - and because it is real now as well.
“I honestly didn’t think I was in the running at all but the board said they liked the job I was doing and the way I was handling everything.
“It’s still a little bit surreal a club of this stature would give me this opportunity but there’s no way, in good conscience, I could turn it down.
“Before I was preparing the team for someone else to come in, judge and take forward and I was content with that.
“Now it’s my team there is a different focus.”
Midfielder Alan Power is a doubt for Kilmarnock’s meeting with Rangers.
Power was forced off during the win over Motherwell after taking a knock to the ankle.
I want to move forward & repay the faith that the club has shown