Kieran Tierney says Celtic will head into Thursday night’s Europa League clash with Feyenoord determined to produce a performance that reflects the standards they expect from themselves in Europe this season. Speaking at the team hotel in Rotterdam, the defender admitted the Hoops have not hit their best form in the competition so far, but insisted the squad are fully focused on putting that right at De Kuip. “Looking forward to it,” the defender said. “We know this season so far we have not been our best in the Europa League. “We want to go and prove a point, put on a performance and hopefully get the three points as well.” Tierney is under no illusions about the task awaiting Celtic, having studied Feyenoord’s recent performances closely. But he believes belief in the gameplan will be key. “It would be great to get something here because we know they are a tough team,” he added. “We have seen their clips against Aston Villa and other good teams as well, how they pass the ball and how they press. “We know it is going to be a tough game but we need to believe in ourselves, trust ourselves, trust the gameplan and stick to it.”The full-back also spoke about working under interim manager Martin O’Neill, describing the experience as surreal given the influence the former Celtic manager had on his early football memories. “It is nuts.” Tierney laughed. “Your earliest memories are of Martin O’Neill and what he did for the club. What he said outside Celtic Park when he first signed, those are videos you grow up watching. “My cousin texted me saying, ‘I am coming to a Celtic game that you are playing in and Martin O’Neill is the gaffer!’” Tierney praised the impact the manager has had on the squad in a short space of time. “He has been brilliant. He has the personality where you know he is in the room. He only needs to say a couple of words and he can make you feel on top of the world, a great player, just by something he says at the end of training or during a session. To have someone like that has been brilliant for all of us.” The defender also reflected briefly on the historic goal he scored for Scotland during the recent international break to seal a first World Cup in 28 years for the nation, a moment he says he enjoyed before quickly shifting focus back to club duties. “I had a couple of days enjoying it,” he said. “Once you are back in here you are focused on the next game, and we knew St Mirren was coming up. “It was a great night and a great memory that I will have, but my full focus is on Celtic now.” MORE ON THE MATCH Martin O’Neill’s pre-match press conference –
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