It looks like a new star has arrived at Celtic.
On Sunday, the Hoops cruised into the Scottish League Cup semi-finals with a commanding 4-0 win over Partick Thistle at Firhill, and once again it was Sebastian Tounekti who stole the show. The summer signing was named Man of the Match for the second week in a row, adding even more excitement to Celtic’s season.
Supporters also got their first glimpse of Kieran Tierney linking up with Tounekti down the left-hand side, and the early signs suggest a promising partnership is forming.
When Tierney returned to Celtic this summer, many fans expected him to reignite combinations with Jota or Daizen Maeda. Instead, the returning favourite could be developing something special with Tounekti.
Speaking to Premier Sports after the win, Tierney praised the Tunisian winger’s seamless transition into life at Parkhead.
“It feels like he’s been here for ages,” Tierney said. “His debut at Kilmarnock last week was unbelievable — that’s always a tough place to go and the conditions weren’t easy, but he settled in straight away.”
With back-to-back standout displays, Tounekti has quickly captured the imagination of the Celtic support — and with Tierney alongside him, the Hoops may have uncovered a new left-sided partnership to drive them forward this season.
What Tierney has told Tounekti
Celtic’s semi-final clash with Rangers in the League Cup will be a repeat of last season’s final, which the Hoops edged on penalties. For Kieran Tierney, the demands at Celtic are clear — and it’s a message he has already been passing on to Sebastian Tounekti and the other new arrivals.
Speaking to Premier Sports, Connie McLaughlin reminded Tierney that he and his teammates hadn’t told Tounekti much about the importance of Hampden occasions. The left-back’s response summed up the club’s mentality.
“Aye, it’s Celtic — that’s what you need to do,” Tierney explained. “You need to get to semi-finals, finals, and you need to win trophies. That’s the standard here.”
Tierney added that Tounekti already understands the expectation and has shown he’s ready for it. “He knows that coming here as well. You can see how up for it he is. Even today, it was the first time I’ve started alongside him, and it was a joy to play with him.”
With the Tunisian winger settling quickly and Tierney already guiding him on what it means to be a Celtic player, the pair could become a crucial partnership as Brendan Rodgers’ side chase silverware this season.
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