Kieran still finds time for fun on the park
It’s tough to take Kieran Tierney at face value when, having just watched him shut down Arjen Robben in the Dutch star’s 100th Champions League game, he claims he’s “not that good” at anything.
Tierney, who at 20, is not just a regular in both the Celtic and Scotland teams, but is trusted enough to be used in several positions for both.
He has already captained his club and been scouted on numerous occasions by several English Premier League clubs, Manchester United among them.
“You don’t enjoy getting beaten, but you enjoy testing yourself against the best,” Tierney said after Celtic’s defeat in Munich’s Allianz Arena.
“Bayern are one of the best teams in the world and there is a reason Robben is known as one of the top wingers.
“I thought I could have done better, personally. But people have been telling me I have been harsh on myself, that I did OK.
“It is true I probably can be that way at times. I do know I gave it 100%, as I always do and I did have a couple of chances. Whether that is enough or not, it is all I can do.”
“You just try to learn. I always need to improve everything. I am not really that good at anything in particular, if I am honest.
“There is nothing that I am perfect at so I just try to improve every single day.
“These games are a good yardstick, though, and I like to study the best fullbacks to see what they do. Players like Joshua Kimmich.
“For example, you know you are going to get pressed but maybe if you can put the ball to one side, to take on a man rather than just moving the ball on, which is slightly easier.
“I’d like to keep the ball a bit better in big games.”
As dedicated as he is to selfimprovement in his career, Tierney still tries to find time for a bit of fun while playing.
“There was one good moment with Robben, actually,” he said.
“I tried to zing it to Paddy Roberts on a big switch across the pitch, but I scuffed it and it went right to Tom Rogic, and he said, ‘Good pass, my friend’.
“Both of us just laughed and I said to him: ‘Hey, what are you talking about? I meant that’.”