Tierney out to prove he can master every trade
KIERAN TIERNEY has explained the self-improvement syllabus he is squeezing into his schedule to ensure he excels in the Champions League at left-back for Celtic, then wherever Gordon Strachan decides to play him in World Cup qualifiers.
The 20-year-old was at his marauding finest on his favoured flank in midweek, linking with Olivier Ntcham’s superb pass to set up Leigh Griffiths for the go-ahead goal in the away victory against Anderlecht.
Following his appearance in yesterday’s 2-2 draw with Hibs, Tierney now flicks the switch to consider himself either a centre-half or a right-sided defender for the purposes of helping Scotland advance to a play-off tie from Group F qualifying.
That is an inordinate ask for one of his age but a challenge Tierney has embraced as he refuses to accept being any less a performer in a position different to where he feels most comfortable.
‘I’ve got a programme at Celtic where I work on my weaknesses,’ reported Tierney. ‘So it’ll be heading one day, my weaker foot the next. Then it’s crossing, on to general passing — everything I need to improve.
‘With all the games, it’s hard to do the extra stuff. But the club leave it to you. Hopefully it shows what type of person I am. I want to train, learn and get better all the time. In training, obviously I’ll use my right foot.
‘And I’ll head the ball. But afterwards with (coach) John Kennedy I try to be more specific. If I’ve done something wrong at the weekend, I’ll try to work on it. That’s so I can correct it for the next game.
‘The biggest challenge on the right is that most of your passing has to be with your weaker foot. You find yourself in tight spaces and it’s on your other side. It affects your positioning as well when you’re over covering. That’s the stuff I need to think about. But I get used to it in training during the week.’
In Celtic great Danny McGrain, Tierney has the perfect man to pick up nuggets of advice from. McGrain was forced into learning adaptability for Scotland because Sandy Jardine, a fellow outstanding right-back, was his 1970s contemporary.
Now Strachan wants both Tierney and Andrew Robertson in his team and believes the best way to accommodate both talents is for Liverpool’s new signing to be flying up that left wing.
‘After the first game I played there, I did okay but Danny gave me a few tips which was great for me,’ said Tierney (pictured right). ‘I was too young to remember him playing on the opposite side for Scotland but I’ve heard about it.
‘I’m not sure if it’s the same with everyone but I do need to focus more when I’m at rightback. It’s hard to get your head around the fact you might be
playing at right-back for Scotland because I’m still young. I’m still trying to do well in my own position, never mind flip to the other side. And I’m not exactly known for my right foot.
‘It’s harder for me to get up and down in my natural position. As a centre-back, you’re not expected to go the byeline and cut it back. Wherever I am asked to play, I will do my job. Everybody knows I have been a left-back all my days, but centre-back or right-back, I don’t mind where I play.
‘It’s difficult but the manager has faith in me. He’s played me there in some big games so far and the team are on a good run.
If
I’m asked to play there I’m happy to do it. But I have asked Andy if he fancies swapping.
‘I’ve said to him: “Is it not your turn?” But the manager likes him at left-back and he’s a great player playing in the Premier League at a top club. Playing on the other side for Scotland will benefit me anyway. It lets managers know that I’m willing to play anywhere, which might help me get in the team.’
Tierney’s delivery for Griffiths was the 28th pass of a patient move that unlocked the five-man back-line of the toiling Belgian champions. The possession dominance of Celtic on a big European away night prompted Rodgers to tell his players there is never any need to feel ‘embarrassed’ for holding on to the ball for long periods.
Tierney acknowledged: ‘He’s right. If you’ve kept the ball for a while you’re too eager to go forward.
Maybe when you’re younger, you want to go forward and get a goal or assist, but in Europe you can’t always do that. ‘You need to just keep the ball and maybe make the other team run about for a while. That’s just top-level football. The way we kept the ball and the chances we took, you get belief from that.’
I have asked Andy if he fancies swapping. I’ve said to him: ‘Is it not your turn?’