The Hoops hero also admitted this year’s title would top the lot if they can pip Hearts and Rangers to the Premiership crown
Kieran Tierney with Celtic ultras(Image: SNS Group)
Kieran Tierney hopes the Green Brigade’s ban can be lifted for Celtic’s relentless end-of-season run-in.
Hoops diehard KT grew up alongside members of both the Green Brigade and Bhoys Celtic and remains in contact with the ultras. Club chiefs held crunch talks with various leading fan groups this week in a bid to broker peace and draw a line under the civil war that has cast a shadow over the campaign.
Tierney admits the famous Section 111 noise has been sorely missed and believes a united Celtic Park could make all the difference between now and May.
He said: “I would love the atmosphere to be the best it could be because the run-in is going to be tough. Everyone knows how the atmosphere can be at Celtic Park and how much it can help us, so I’d look forward to that.
“I have known them for years, going to the games when I was younger. When I went to the games I wanted to create an atmosphere as well, so I have a good relationship with them.
“What messages have I had? Just things like ‘keep going’ and that we need to fight. I saw a banner against Livingston saying ‘fight to the end’ and I think that’s the message every supporter would give to the players if they could speak to us.
“We know everyone is backing us and supporting us, so we’re going out there doing our best.”
Meanwhile, Tierney insists pipping Hearts and Rangers to the title would be his best league triumph yet.
The Celtic hero lifted four Premiership crowns during his first spell in Glasgow – including a famous Invincible Treble. Tierney starred as the Hoops strolled to title glory under Ronny Deila, Brendan Rodgers and Neil Lennon.
But with this season’s three-horse race set to go down to the wire, the defender admits lifting the trophy would top the lot after such a turbulent campaign.
He said: “Where would winning the title this season rank? For me, it would be the top because of everything that’s happened this season. Everyone can see it’s not been plain sailing. So to come through that and if we do win it, it would be the best.
“Obviously when I won my first title it’s amazing, when I won my first Treble it’s brilliant as well. But this one would be the hardest-fought one.
Celtic hero Kieran Tierney(Image: SNS Group)
“The first Treble we went Invincible that season, we knew we’d won the league a couple of weeks before the season finished. But this year it’s going to go right to the end. All we can do is look at the next game because you can’t guarantee anyone points anywhere.
“Genuinely, I know everyone says it, but it’s one game at a time. We have played a game less and that will come round, but it really has to be just every game as it comes.
“For all we’ve been through this season the team has never been more together. You have seen we will never give up the fight until the end, we showed that in the last two games.
“There has never been a question about the attitude, we’re going for it in every game and whether we’re not playing our best or not, we keep going right to the end.”
Celts were handed a helping hand by Motherwell on Wednesday when loanee Stephen Welsh popped up with a last-minute equaliser to deny Rangers all three points.
It could prove a pivotal moment in this year’s topsy-turvy title battle, with the champions now just a point behind Danny Rohl’s second-placed side and still holding a game in hand.
Tierney admitted the group WhatsApp chat erupted as Welsh was flooded with texts from his jubilant Hoops teammates.
He said: “The changing room was buzzing for him and I’m sure a few of the boys messaged him. He’s a big part here, he’s well-liked by everyone, so we were all delighted for him.
“I think you could see in his celebration what it meant – he’s been here since he was young so loves the club. He knows what it means to the club, but obviously he will be delighted for Motherwell too because that’s his club right now.
“But to do it against Rangers and a turn for Celtic at the same time, it probably means a lot to him.”
Get more Daily Record exclusives by signing up for free to Google’s preferred sources. Click HERE