TRYING TO TRACK THE CRUYFF TURN
TIERNEY CAN BE A SUPER CELT
CELTIC youngster Kieran Tierney has all the
attributes to make it to the top, according to
David Hay. The former Hoops star and manager
has been watching full-back Tierney's progress
with great interest this season and was particularly
impressed by the 18-year-old's battling
performance against Molde in the UEFA Europa
League.
Hay described Tierney as 'first-class' and said he
appears to have what it takes to be a success at
Paradise.
"He showed a determination and desire not to
be second-best on the night against Molde in any
aspect of the game, whether that's defending or
attacking," said Hay.
"What he does in defence and going forward is
great. He's not frightened to make a challenge and
for someone so young he reads the game very well,
defensively.
"So far he's shown he has the right attitude.
Usually youngsters learn from experienced players.
I did in my time by playing under the Lions but
some of the experienced players could learn from
the attitude he showed."
but even he had a tough night of it in Holland in
March 1971 when he was tasked with clamping
the playmaker's movements in their European Cup
quarter-final meeting.
"He's quite a strong-willed person, as he was
on the park," Hay explained. "Your concentration
level had to be high because he was liable to do
something at any moment.
"His quickness of thought and movement were
his strengths, alongside his reading of the game, so
you had to be on the top of yours to handle him.
"All top players are like that. No matter how
much you try to eradicate their strengths, at one
moment in the game they'll get the better of any
defender and that's what he was like. He had that
flash of genius."
MAN-marking Johan Cruyff for Celtic in Europe
was an experience that has stuck with David Hay.
The former Celt is regarded as a Hoops legend
