KIERAN TIERNEY says Celtic's frantic 2-0 defeat to Hapoel Be'er Sheva was 'madness' but can now turn his attention to a first taste of the Champions League group stages.
The Hoops were comfortably beaten in Israel and thanked Craig Gordon for saving a first-half penalty, but edged into the competition proper for the first time in three years with a 5-4 aggregate victory.
The 19-year-old played every minute of the two legs against the Israeli champions and admitted that they had hoped to perform better on a night when the Hoops rode their luck in securing passage beyond the play-offs.
Read more: Celtic survive nerves to book place in UEFA Champions League
“Madness, that’s all I can say to describe that,” Tierney said to Celticfc.net.
“We’re through and that’s all that really matters. It was nervous for everybody and it must have been dreadful for the fans to watch the last half-hour but we’re through and that’s what matters. You’re obviously hoping for a better performance but at this stage you’d rather just get through than play well.
“It’s amazing. There are a lot of boys here who haven’t played in the Champions League yet so it’s big for us all and it’s an experience we are all looking forward to. Credit goes to everybody in the changing room and all the work that gets done behind the scenes for the players. It’s brilliant.
“The manager said to us we need to believe we deserve to be there. We’ve worked hard all pre-season and that’s the reward of us getting through now. It’s well-deserved.
Read more: Brendan Rodgers proud of his Celtic troops for digging in
“We were defending most of the second-half and they were just giving it everything with long balls everywhere. To go two down was disappointing but we’ve done enough to go through.
“I don’t mind who we get now but whoever we do get it’s going to be six hard games. It’s the best competition in club football so you’re never going to get an easy game. It’ll sink in when the draw is made and we see who we get. It’s just surreal just now and everyone is buzzing.”
Tierney broke into the Celtic first-team last year and made such an impact that he was named PFA Young Player of the Year for the 2015/16 season in May.
The youngster, who earned his first Scotland cap against Denmark in March, now has another new experience to look forward to and believes it will trump everything that has gone before.
“Getting to the Champions League must be the top," he said.
"As a 19-year-old it’s hard for me coming into situations like this as I only have experience of the Europa League, but to be in the Champions League at 19 and get the chance to play in all six games is a dream.
“The manager has been great with everybody, I’m grateful he’s playing me and hopefully I can continue to impress him and keep playing well.”
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