Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
TIERNEY FEELS ON CLOUD NINE
Partick v Celtic, tonight, 7.45pm
BRENDAN RODGERS has transformed Celtic on and off the pitch this season and Kieran Tierney could not be happier. The 19-year-old leftback broke into the Hoops side under former boss Ronny Deila who left at the end of the season to no great anguish despite capturing the club’s fifth successive Premiership title. Almost a year to the day he was announced as the successor to the Norwegian, Rodgers’ side are unbeaten in 44 domestic games and on the cusp of a treble. Ahead of the penultimate league game of the season against Patrick Thistle at Firhill tonight, Tierney noted the change in the level of performances on the park this season and an increase in size and enthusiasm of the Hoops’ support. “Obviously last year wasn’t the greatest,” he said. “We should have done better. “This year it has looked night and day, with the results and performances and the attendances have been different. “It has been brilliant for everybody involved at the club. “The fans are great home and away. The other night (a 3-1 win at Aberdeen) they were singing non-stop and that makes them the 12th man. “It was a nice touch to give the fans our jerseys too, just as a thank you for travelling so far to see us. “Everybody can feel the positive atmosphere that the fans give us and we are paying them back with the results.” The Scotland international revealed he is benefiting from even the briefest of pep-talks from the former Swansea and Liverpool manager. “He is always so positive with everyone,” said Tierney. “Even just speaking to him for five minutes - if that after training, it is all positive stuff. And that gives you confidence going into any game. “And when you are in for a meeting you go out and the self-belief is up and you are ready for training. It is brilliant.” Both manager and player have been impressed by Thistle who drew 1-1 at Parkhead last month and who made the top-six to guarantee their highest-placed finish since 1981. Tierney said: “They are one of the teams that try to play, they play from the back and they have some good players so it will be a tough game. “They deserve their top-six finish and the last time we played them the gaffer said they were one of the better teams in the league.”