If this is Martin O’Neill’s final bow as Celtic manager, then many, many things will be missed.
Aside from O’Neill’s genius ability to win football matches and lift trophies, his sense of humour and sarcastic nature will no longer be there at Celtic.
After Celtic lifted the Scottish Cup on Saturday afternoon after beating Dunfermline Athletic at Hampden, O’Neill was asked why Kieran Tierney had to come off in the 85th minute, and whether it was just a ‘precaution.’
Of course, with the World Cup coming up, Scotland fans don’t want Tierney on the sidelines, because he is a key player for Steve Clarke.
But O’Neill’s response to the journalist’s question was just brilliant, as he stated that one reason why he would like to stay for next season is just to see Celtic’s star left-back complete 90 minutes of football.
“That’s one of the things I would like to stay for next season, so Kieran completes a game,” joked O’Neill about why KT went off at Hampden.
“It would be really fantastic. I love him to bits. I think he is great for us. But honestly.”
Who was your Celtic MOTM vs Dunfermline?
Martin O’Neill hails Kieran Tierney as a ‘fine footballer’ for Celtic
Everyone is aware of Tierney’s situation. Injuries on top of injuries during these past few years mean that his body has taken a proper beating.
So, this is his first proper season, in a long while, where he hasn’t visited the treatment room, but he still has to do things with caution, such as not playing an entire game on top of playing an entire game.
Clearly, Shaun Maloney is well-equipped and aware of the sports science behind it all, and he just informs O’Neill when Tierney has to go off.
Despite that conversation, ‘doing my brain in’ for O’Neill, he still lauded and applauded Tierney as a ‘real fine footballer’, as he told his post-match Scottish Cup final press conference.
“That’s one of the things I would like to stay for next season, so Kieran completes a game,” joked O’Neill about why KT went off at Hampden.
“It would be really fantastic. I love him to bits. I think he is great for us. But honestly.
“Shaun (Maloney) keeps coming to me, all the time, after 55 minutes and says, ‘I think Kieran…’
“So, he is doing my brain in. But he is fine. He has done brilliantly since he came back. I think a real pre-season with him will suit him down to the ground, but he is a real fine footballer.”
How many 90 minutes has Tierney completed this season?
If this is the way Tierney is going to go about things, and he can muster up over 50 games of football, then so be it.
One thing can’t be denied is that, as the season has progressed, it could be argued, especially during the second half, that Tierney has been Celtic’s best player.
That’s all that matters, as the numbers suggest he has still completed a fair amount of 90 minutes, despite O’Neill’s wish.
- Games played: 53
- Starts: 46
- 90 minutes completed: 16
- Total minutes: 3,907
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