‘CELTIC HAVE A LOT TO PROVE IN EUROPA LEAGUE,’ KT
KIERAN TIERNEY insists Celtic have a lot to prove in the Europa League as they prepare for Monday’s last-32 draw in Nyon.
The Hoops dropped into the second tier tournament after finishing third in Group B behind Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich, despite the 1-0 loss to Anderlecht.
Tierney was disappointed with the champions’ display and now the international defender reckons the players must up their levels of performance in the remaining European ties.
He said: “We were up against some of the best teams in the world and it is hard at that level. We did feel we let ourselves down against Anderlecht.
“We need to play better than that, that’s for sure. But we got the job done. We would like to prove that we can do better.”
The left-back added: “It has been a crazy schedule since the end of June. I think I have played almost as many games this season as I did over the entire course of the last campaign.
“But that is just what it is at Celtic and you need to be able to deal with that.
“And, overall, I think we have to be pleased. We have won the League Cup, we are seven points clear at the top of the table and we have European football after Christmas, so there are lots and lots of positives to take.
“We’re through. That was the main aim. Of course, we’d like to play much better, there’s no doubt about it. We’d like to put on a show for the fans who support us thick and thin and come everywhere with us.
“I think we need to try and improve in every area. It wasn’t our best game, we know that. When you’re 3-0 up going into the game it’s different mentally.
“You saw that in Astana, we went over there and we were already winning. Games like that are different, but we’ll learn from this.”
