Emotional Kieran Tierney hails Callum McGregor after Celtic defeat Hearts to the title

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Kieran Tierney and Callum McGregor have seen and done it all at Celtic, up until this campaign.

From Brendan Rodgers to Wilfried Nancy, somehow, from somewhere, the season ended with Martin O’Neill lifting the Premiership title, years after his legendary stint in the early noughties.

Celtic defeated Hearts on the final day of the season to leapfrog Derek McInnes’ men right at the death and clinch their fifth Scottish crown in a row.

As you can imagine, Tierney was emotional when doing his title-celebrating interview on the Celtic Park pitch for Sky Sports, but amid his delight, he wanted to single out McGregor for the ‘unbelievable’ things he does behind the scenes that nobody sees.

“Our captain is absolutely brilliant,” said Tierney. “What he does for us behind the scenes that nobody sees is unbelievable. He has kept this changing room together.”

• READ MORE: Trongate cordons appear during Celtic vs Hearts title showdown

Kieran Tierney holds back tears as Celtic clinch the Premiership title right at the death

Even though Hearts opened the scoring via a Lawrence Shankland header, that penalty from Arne Engels just before half-time was so crucial.

It relaxed the nerves because Celtic knew after the break that they just needed one goal, and the title was staying home.

After a painstaking and nervy VAR check, Daizen Maeda’s 87th-minute goal sealed the title, before Callum Osmand put the cherry on top of the cake in stoppage time.

Celtic have dominated and dominated for decades now.

But this title win, because of what unfolded this season, will perhaps go down as one of the best, and Tierney was right to put McGregor’s name front and centre of it all, because he has kept everyone together.

“This full season has been absolutely mental,” said Tierney. “To have a day like this is unbelievable. From where we were at some points of the season to the atmosphere everywhere, it’s totally flipped. It’s a credit to everyone.

“Our captain is absolutely brilliant. What he does for us behind the scenes that nobody sees is unbelievable. He has kept this changing room together.

“I am buzzing. I am so happy for everyone here. Everyone involved, but Callum McGregor deserves every bit of this man.

“I think this team is the most mentally strong team I have ever been involved in, by far. We had everybody coming for us. Doubting us. Slaughtering us. And we are still here.”