Former Celtic manager Ronny Deila has paid Kieran Tierney the ultimate compliment.
Deila, of course, brought Tierney up through the youth system at Parkhead and gave him his debut back in 2015. One year previous, Deila was also overseeing the development of one Virgil Van Dijk at Celtic too.
The big Dutchman would later leave for Southampton. Fast forward five years later and he’s an international superstar and, perhaps debatably the best centre-back in football at the moment.
But if you’re to compare both big Virgil and Tierney’s mentality, Deila believes it’s the Celtic man who wins in that battle. Speaking to the Scottish Sun, Deila opened up on Tierney’s attributes.
“I think Kieran has an even better mentality than Virgil. That’s what I saw at that time. Virgil, of course, has gone on to a different level since leaving Celtic, but at the time I worked with them both Kieran was even better.
“They both had the physical attributes to play at the highest level. Virgil had everything. But Tierney has the same.
“He needs to improve a little bit technically, still. But at the same time he has everything else already and will learn the rest.”
Ronny Deila can’t be dismissed in Tierney/Van Dijk comparison
Ronny’s time at Parkhead wasn’t as successful as we all would’ve liked. Domestic success was achieved, but European accolades combined with poor football subsequently led to his demise.
But if there’s one man in football history who could compare the two then it would be Deila. He’s the only one to have had them both in the first-team at the same time. Van Dijk’s departure from Celtic ruined what could’ve been a terrific spine at the back, but not many can blame him when you look at his achievements now.
What makes it such a huge compliment is the fact that Van Dijk’s attitude at Parkhead was never in question either. He knuckled down and earned his big-money move. For Tierney to be put in the same bracket as one of the world’s greatest centre-backs is extremely high praise.
It also shows why he’s a wanted man this summer. Celtic will still be doing everything in their power to keep him at Celtic Park, as the transfer saga threatens to carry over into August.
But one of the regrets for supporters will be not being able to see Tierney and Van Dijk in the same team more often. Both men continue to impress year on year, and they would’ve worked well together at the back.
If Tierney makes the move, it would hardly surprise you if he became a world-renowned superstar like Van Dijk too. For Deila, the mentality for it is clearly there.
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