Kieran Tierney has addressed the criticism around his fitness after returning to Celtic this season, making it clear that the narrative has not reflected the reality of his situation.
Questions around Tierney’s ability to complete a full 90 minutes have followed him for years despite his level when available. That noise has continued since his return to Celtic, with the same doubts raised again.
Tierney has now answered the critics directly, and his message is simple. While the Celtic defender accepts the criticism exists, he does not entertain it, and has proved it with his work on the pitch.
And what Tierney has achieved this season so far at Celtic, the numbers tell a very different story.
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Kieran Tierney fitness criticism has already been answered at Celtic
Tierney said critics will always question his fitness, stating: “People are always going to do it, and they still say it today. There’s nothing you can do apart from work hard.
“And I’m just so grateful because the club, one of the reasons I came back is because I know the club so well and they know me, and they probably knew that I was going to need a bit of time.
“So the club never put pressure on me at the start to play three games a week, three 90 minutes a week. It was a slow build up, and that was always the plan.
“So in my head at the time, I was like, Oh, maybe I would like to play more and longer and be fitter and be stronger, but I knew it was a process.
“I think I’ve played more minutes this season than the last two or three seasons combined. So I’m proud of that, and I work hard and I look after myself, and that’s it. I just try to do my best for Celtic, and hopefully we get the rewards.”
The most important point is clear. Tierney has played more minutes this season than the last two or three combined, which directly challenges the criticism.
This is not projection. It is evidence of availability, consistency, and trust.
Celtic managed Kieran Tierney properly where others did not
The context behind that improvement matters. Celtic did not rush him back into full match loads, instead following a controlled plan.
He described his return as a process, even admitting he wanted more minutes earlier but understood the need for patience.
This approach has helped Tierney’s long-term availability for Celtic and it is being shown on the pitch.
The result is a player contributing regularly. Tierney has already played significantly more football this season at Celtic than he managed across his final two years at Arsenal combined.
- Arsenal season: 2022/23: 1,459 minutes
- Arsenal season 2023/24: 447 minutes
- Arsenal season 2024/25: 14 minutes
- Celtic season 2025/26: 3,176 minutes
Tierney has not argued against the criticism. He has answered it through his performances and his minutes.
The narrative has not disappeared, but it no longer holds weight. The evidence is already there.
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