Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
FORGET PSG WE ARE WELL UP FOR FINAL
Tierney: We owe fans a result after Paris and we won’t Bow to strong-arm tactics
KIERAN TIERNEY insists Celtic will stand up to any strong-arm tactics from Motherwell on Sunday as the Hoops are ready to fight to restore their pride after Paris.
The Parkhead ace was on the end of a brutal tackle from Fir Park striker Ryan Bowman in a league clash last season and watched the Steelmen battle to beat Rangers in their bruising Betfred Cup semi-final last month.
The defender will be ready for whatever Well throw their way in Sunday’s final and is convinced the Hoops have shown they have the stomach for a scrap.
Tierney said: “They are a strong and physical team but we have shown over the past season and a bit we can stand up to all the different challenges that are put in front us.
“We know they are an in-form team. You don’t go up to Aberdeen and beat them 2-0 if you are not a good side.
“They will be going in fresh and really confident and we know it will be a really tough game.”
Celts are determined to provide their supporters with some silver lining following the dark night in France as PSG gave the Scottish champions a 7-1 chasing in the Parc des Princes.
Tierney said: “You need to put the negatives away and think positive. We have to learn from it and as footballers you are going to have bad days.
“It is part of the job and Sunday is all about bouncing back. We have to put the PSG game behind us.
“It is done, we’ve had the chat and now we have a massive game and that is what we are preparing for.
“We are even more determined because the fans have been great with us. They paid a lot of money and gave up their hard-earned cash to come over to Paris to watch us.
“They are a great support and we let them down on Wednesday but everybody gave their all, there is no doubt about that.
“This team always gives their all. Hopefully, we can now repay the fans on Sunday.”
Tierney admitted the PSG hammering was a horror show for the Hoops, who also lost 5-0 to the French side in Glasgow.
He said: “Everybody is disappointed. It was a horrible night and result but they are a top-class team and are so clinical.
“We played better in Paris than we did in the home leg.
“We played better football, kept the ball more and created more but it was a sore result and ended up a bad one.
“They are the best team I have played against. There was a 7-0 to Barcelona at the Nou Camp last season and we played terrible that night.
“On Wednesday we played a lot better but people aren’t looking at what we did on the ball they are looking at the result.
“It was hard to take for us but it is one we can’t think about too much because it is all to play for in the last game against Anderlecht.”