Tierney is captain fantastic
● Rodgers hands armband to defender for cup tie and says he is destined to be club skipper in long run
Brendan Rodgers insisted last night that Kieran Tierney was “made” to be Celtic captain after the 20-year-old produced a goalscoring display as he became the club’s youngest skipper for a competitive game in living memory.
Tierney, who led a side featuring five teenagers, hit a 35-yard howitzer as Celtic demolished Kilmarnock 5-0 to book their place in the Betfred Cup quarter-finals. Rodgers was emphatic that the youngster, deputising for the suspended Scott Brown, could fulfil his destiny in the role.
Rodgers said “Scotland have a huge talent” in Tierney. Of the captaincy, he said: “He’s made for it, there’s no doubt about that. We’ve got some real senior guys at the club. I could give anyone the captain’s armband; Craig Gordon or Mikael Lustig. But if you’re talking for the future once Brown’s time is up – which won’t be for a few years yet – then he’s made for it.
“He’s of that ilk. Kieran doesn’t waste his time doing stupid things, he’s concentrated on his football. He lives his life to be a player, he’s not drinking, he trains like an animal every day and wherever you ask him to play he plays it to a high level. Tactically he’s improving all the time and he’s an absolute joy to work with.
“He would fit the mould of a captain, he’s certainly got the credentials. You have to be careful what age you give it to them but there’s no doubt he’s on that journey to one day lead the club for sure.
“He took great pride in winning the Dafabet Cup against Sunderland [in the pre-season friendly]. It means everything to him, to go into the huddle and say his speech. He’s one of those young guys that really inspires through his performance.”
Rodgers, who delighted in Tierney’s strike and a first senior goal for 18-year-old right back Anthony Ralston, proved less forthcoming on the reports that Patrick Roberts could be heading back to Celtic from Manchester City on another loan deal.
“As we sit here now, there is nothing to add to what has been said over the last couple of days. Pat is a Manchester City player, he spent his preseason there and if there are any developments to come out of City then we would be hugely interested in him,” he said. “I have heard all the rumours, gossip and speculation about him but right now he is a Manchester City player and a fantastic player.”
Asked if there had been any dialogue, Rodgers said: “That’s private if there is.”
He added: “He is clearly a big talent and between now and the end of the market Patrick and Manchester City will decide where it is he can go, and the player will have a big say in where is best for his development this coming season. Of course, if he is available and we can have him then we’d love to take him.”
The ease with which Celtic swatted aside Kilmarnock to seal their place in the last eight of the Betfred Cup served as yet one more of example of the anointed status of manager Brendan Rodgers. It also proved another occasion to marvel at the irresistible rise of Kieran Tierney.
The 45th win of the Irish manager’s 49-game unbeaten domestic run was hardly unexpected. Nor was it a surprise that Leigh Griffiths was the man to do the earlydamage, or that the team he appeared in should be much changed from the side which dismantled Hearts in the Premiership opener on Saturday.
However, what couldn’t be predicted about last night was that Celtic would prove so imperious while fielding no fewer than five teenagers – three of whom formed their back four.
Or that Tierney, at 20, would prove not just the old head, but would also be the captain and claim an astonishing goal.
In being given the armband, the possibility of his becoming Celtic’s youngest captain in a competitive game was raised.
It was an honour he didn’t half embroider with an almighty hit from fully 35 yards to make it 4-0 with 25 minutes remaining. An effort that took off like a jet plane to practically leave a trail as it nestled in the top right hand corner of Jamie Macdonald’s net. It was a pearler on a night full of highlights for Rodgers’ men.
It is sure to have been extraspecial to Tierney, who didn’t even occupy his regular leftback berth. Instead, the Scotland international partnered Kristoffer Ajer in the centre of defence. With 19-yearold Calvin Miller on the right of the backline and 18-yearold Anthony Ralston on the opposite flank the average age of home defence was 19.5 years. Surely some sort of club record?
In the early stages it looked like another would be set as Kilmarnock failed to make it over the halfway line for the opening quarter of an hour. It wasn’t that Celtic were doing anything exceptional, though 19-year-old winger Kundai Benyu – a summer signing from Ipswich Town – scampered down the left in lively fashion and a fifth teenager, Eboue Kouassi, looked eager in central midfield.
What was unmistakeable, though, was the supine nature of Lee Mcculloch’s men. They didn’t look like a fellow Premiership side of Celtic’s but lower division cannon fodder. Yet, in their ranks they have a clutch of experienced performers in defenders Gordon Greer and Kirk Broadfoot and attacking players Chris Burke and Lee Irwin.
Greer and Broadfoot were defenders at the other end of the spectrum from those of Celtic and they had a night in complete contrast. The Rugby Park side were up against it from the 13th minute when Jonny Hayes burrowed into the visitors’ box and appeared to be impeded by Jordan Jones. Referee Alan Muir was willing to give the Kilmarnock man the benefit of the doubt but standside assistant Frank Connor flagged and a spot kick was belatedly given. An award that Griffiths slotted away without thinking.
The Scotland striker did likewise when Tierney chipped a ball forward that Griffiths controlled on his chest before setting off and stubbing a shot wide of Macdonald from the edge of the area. It was sublime finishing and made it 3-0 on the half hour, Ralston having doubled Celtic’s advantage a little earlier when he powered his sturdy frame into the air to meet an outswinging Griffiths corner and bullet a header high into the net.
Celtic’s young team did not have it all their own way, though. Kouassi was lost to an awkward fall as the interval neared and Miller did not have as many opportunities to make a splash, while Benyu was replaced to loud applause by Callum Mcgregor with 20 minutes remaining.
That ovation sounded like one man clapping compared to the acclaim given to Tierney for his strike that could not have been hit any sweeter.
He knew it as he took off to celebrate, turning to the main stand and thumping hand to the Celtic crest on his shirt as has become his trademark expression of his bond with his boyhood club.
Tierney may now have become the £25 million player at Celtic and one coveted even more than the injured Moussa Dembele. Last season, Stuart Armstrong was the third Celtic player talked about as a future incomer to the English top flight. His contract situation seems to have left him unsettled but last night he too enjoyed a scoring moment, neatly turning in a Ralston cross to complete a five-goal rout for an unstoppable home side.