Robinson sees left-back’s move as testament to strength of Scottish game
Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson believes Kieran Tierney’s record-breaking move from Celtic is good news for Scottish football.
Robinson, whose side host the champions today, feels the Ladbrokes Premiership is finally getting the recognition it deserves after Tierney moved for a record £25 million. Arsenal made the leftback Scotland’s most expensive player and paid double the amount Celtic accepted four years ago for Virgil van Dijk, now widely regarded as the world’s best defender.
Motherwell themselves accepted a club-record £3m fee from Celtic for David Turnbull this summer before the need for the midfielder to undergo knee surgery scuppered the transfer.
Robinson believes the effect of Tierney’s fee will help other clubs. “He’s a top, top footballer and got a fantastic move,” he said. “[It] is about time the league has been recognised for the quality it is and the quality of player that Kieran Tierney is. I tried to hold out for £25m for David but unfortunately we didn’t quite get that. But the point is very valid. We don’t get the credit for the game up here, usually from press people that have probably seen one game in ten years.
“The quality is massively improved, there are a lot of top managers here, tactically very aware. Crowds are getting bigger, stadiums are full [most] weeks, and I think we are getting value for players.
“There’s a lot more players out there that people will be interested in and it’s about time Scottish football got the credit it deserves.”