Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has hit out at his club’s own supporters after sections of the fanbase chanted the name of Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney at Parkhead on Sunday afternoon. The reigning Scottish champions hosted St Mirren at Celtic Park just days after it emerged the club were in talks about bringing Tierney back to the club.
BBC Sport reported that Celtic had held talks to re-sign the Scotland international on a pre-contract agreement from Arsenal. The left back joined the Gunners from Celtic for £25m six years ago this summer but has struggled for injury for much of his time in North London. He has played 125 times for the North London outfit but did spend time out on loan at Real Sociedad last campaign.
Celtic are free to speak with Tierney and can sign him on a free transfer this summer. They were free to agree a pre-contract deal from January 1 but there is said to be interest from other clubs. The 27-year-old won four Scottish Premiership titles with Celtic before heading to the Gunners and was named the Glasgow club’s Young Player of the Year three years in a row between 2016 and 2018.
Rodgers angry at supporter chants
Speaking after their win over St Mirren that saw Celtic go 13 points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership, Rodgers said: “There was a few things that I may have overheard at the end there. That’s a total lack of respect. Of course there is. Greg Taylor, he’s been absolutely amazing at this club. How does he feel? He nearly breaks his nose, bleeding for the club, for a cause. It’s not very respectful. You sing for another player, no matter what Kieran’s history is. I don’t like that. There’s lots of speculation, lots of names, but I wouldn’t add anything to it.
He continued: “I put myself in his shoes when he’s playing left-back in the game. Especially when you’re doing so much for the club and have given so much for the club. I’m not sure (If he heard the chants), I haven’t spoken to him, but I don’t think he can miss it. But what I know is every single day of his life it’s up to him.He’s there for the team, he stands up and be counted. The next mistake, he goes again. I get a greater appreciation even now, working with him closely. I’m really hopeful that we’ll keep him.”
Rodgers keen to keep Taylor amid Tierney links
Taylor is out of contract at the end of the season, further fuelling the idea that Tierney will join the club but Rodgers insisted he wanted to extend the player’s deal. He added: “But what I know is that a young player who’s given so much to this club over a number of years, consistently. His ability, what he’s done for the club. So, that needs to be explored. He might decide to go elsewhere. But at this moment in time, he’s here, he’s very much a Celtic player, and we want to support that. Hopefully we can get to some agreement to let him stay.
“I can only vouch for where I’ve come in here. I’ve had a look at his numbers before, and then his performance level, consistency, availability. And then from my time here, he’s been absolutely great. I hear the stuff around, oh, maybe Champions League. But I’ve had hundreds of Celtic players that haven’t been good enough in the Champions League. What I know is this is a man who gives everything for this club. Hopefully we can keep him here because we’re trying to build a strong squad.
