No player appreciated Celtic’s win over Anderlecht more than Kieran Tierney.
The young defender grew up watching various types of European disappointments with the hoops unable to repeat their home exploits on the road.
Wednesday’s trip to Anderlecht carried a little expectation with few Celtic fans predicting a 3-0 win.
That result matched the club’s best ever Champions League victory which was just the topic after a 5-0 defeat from PSG which hurt deeply despite the quality of opposition.
Tierney was a schoolboy when Celtic last won away from home in the Champions League but played a full part in the win over Anderlecht and earned a place in UEFAs team of the week.
“I remember watching the last away victory as a fan at home,” the defender told the Daily Record. “It was a great game against Spartak, a brilliant victory, and Jamesie scored but I was only 15 so I was pretty young. That’s why it was an amazing feeling after the game on Wednesday night.
“Before it, I was in the toilet and I could hear the fans singing my song, it was an hour before kick-off.
“So they were in great spirits for the full trip and they deserve a victory like that away in Europe.
“They follow Celtic everywhere, home or away, favourites or not favourites – there will always be Celtic fans there.
“When we celebrated after, I knew what it meant to them. I actually picked my family out the other night. There were four of them over for the game so it was great to see them.
“To get a great result like that and make the Celtic fans proud, that’s your ambition as a player.”
With three points from two matches Tierney can look forward with some optimism to the remainder of this campaign.
Getting close to Bayern Munich over two back-to-back matches will be the next goal for Brendan Rodgers’ side knowing that barring some incredibly unlikely results a home win over Anderlecht will provide Europa League football after Christmas and the real opportunity of lengthy run and more away days.
