Get next boss wrong and it’s 10 in a row for the Hoops

KIERAN WANTS IT TO BE JAPANEASY Tierney: I don’t envy pal Andy SAYS ALAN STUBBS

BY ALAN MARSHALL KIERAN TIERNEY insists he is living out his dream – despite watching Scotland team-mate Andy Robertson shine in the Champions League.

Robertson, Tierney’s rival for the Scotland left-back spot, was part of the Liverpool side that turned in a stunning performance to beat Roma 5-2 in the semi-finals of the Champions League on Tuesday night.

It could easily have been Tierney flourishing on that stage, with the Celtic star regularly linked with moves to some of the biggest sides in England after establishing himself as a key player at both domestic and international level at the age of just 20.

Instead he is happy to stay at Parkhead, where he has yet to play in a knockout Champions League game and saw his side beaten in the last 32 of the Europa League.

But Tierney is adamant he is not jealous of what Robertson has gone on to achieve. He said: “It was a massive game. It’s a Champions League semifinal and Andy did brilliant.

“But for me when I was younger, it was Celtic. If you want to play in the Champions League you play in it with Celtic and that’s just the way it has been for me. All I really think about is Celtic.”

On the pair’s relationship he said: “He will message me after some big games if we win and I will message him as well. We know each other from the Scotland trips and he’s a Celtic fan as well!” ALAN STUBBS reckons one more blunder from Dave King and Rangers’ board will gift wrap 10 in a row for Celtic.

The Englishman was part of the Hoops side that halted Walter Smith’s Ibrox outfit on nine and prevented Gers from creating a new landmark 20 years ago.

But Stubbs now sees 10 back on the agenda with his old club on a roll under Brendan Rodgers.

As the champions storm towards seven this term, Rangers have two years to build enough momentum to stop their nightmare unfolding.

But Stubbs insists it will all hinge on the Ibrox side’s next move on the management front.

Having got it wrong with Mark Warburton and Pedro Caixinha before handing the job to caretaker Graeme Murty, King and the Ibrox hierarchy are hunting a long-term appointment.

Stubbs reckons if they don’t get the right man it will be curtains in their bid to stop Celtic.

He said: “The manager decision is critical, it has to come from above. They’re getting the most important decisions wrong. Rangers have two years to get it right.

“They got Caixinha BY CRAIG SWAN wrong and spent a lot of money on players.

“Whoever comes in, whether it’s a British or a foreign manager, it’s got to be right. They can’t afford to get this wrong. It’s unthinkable.

“Rangers have to be more of a threat. Celtic haven’t reached the heights of last season and could still win the league by 15-18 points and that’s not good.

“Celtic will strengthen in the summer. They’re looking at Europe, they know they’re so far ahead domestically and they’ll look at two-three players of real quality.”

Stubbs insists Celtic’s class of 1998, where Wim Jansen came in and crafted a title-winning side in his only season, proves it can be done – but splashing the cash isn’t always the answer.

He said: “Rangers have spent more money this season than last and they could finish fourth which would be worse.

“In ‘98 Rangers were a much better team than us on paper but we knew we had to stop them somehow. We were fortunate we did.

“Rangers have to get to that situation, right now it doesn’t look like it’s possible but it can quickly change.”