Greg Taylor

GREG TAYLOR says he was a nervous wreck as Celtic looked to avoid being on the wrong end of an almighty shock in the Scottish Cup Final, but it is exactly those nerves that drive him on to help the club make history.

The full-back capped off an outstanding season on a personal level with another assured display in Saturday’s Hampden triumph, but he says that he was just as jittery before taking on Championship underdogs Inverness Caledonian Thistle as he had been before facing up to Real Madrid in the Champions League earlier in the campaign.

That is because the Celtic players are acutely aware of the responsibility they carry to deliver success whenever they represent the club, and it is only now that he will be able to relax and enjoy the fruits of those labours.

“History-makers,” Taylor said. “What a group of players. Staff, fans, everyone's played their part, so it was a real historic season.

“It is crazy. Some players go their whole careers without the chance to win one trophy, so for us to win three in one season is hard to describe in words.





The boys, everyone, the squad of players, the manager and coaching staff – it’s not just about the players, it is not just about the coaching staff or just about the manager. Everyone has genuinely played a part in that changing room so I am sure everyone knows that and I hope everyone knows that and can appreciate it.

“It’s funny, me and Matty (O’Riley) were talking about [being nervous] on our walk [before the game]. There’s only been a couple of games in my career I have gone into and not been nervous and they are the ones you feel most worried about, when you don’t have that.

“[Saturday] was no different to last week – just every bit as nervous and recognising the pressure at this club, the pressure of the badge and trying to bring success to the supporters.

“We have just done something unbelievable as a group and as a collective. So, we will enjoy that tonight. I will get away for two or three days and then head right back into the prep for the international games.”

As Taylor alludes to, his period of rest and reflection will be short and sweet, with his attention turning from his achievements with Celtic this term to a massive opportunity that lies ahead for Scotland later this month.

Taylor has been named in Steve Clarke’s squad for the huge European Championships qualification double-header against Norway and Georgia, but far from flagging, the boundlessly energetic full back is relishing the challenge ahead.

Though, he also has some pressing personal business to attend to in the first instance.

“Well, I have four days when I can go and see my wedding venue for next year,” he said. “So, I will be doing that first.

“I can’t tell you [where], I don’t want any of you lot lurking about! No comment, I am telling you nothing.

“I will try and get a quick re-charge of the batteries and then right into the national team



“It is just the life of a footballer. Certainly, boys who play international football. You know you are only ever one game away and the next one is the biggest.

“That’s been the attitude for us at the club as a group of players and that’s the mentality I am sure every one of the international players have, because as soon as you go away and represent your country there is no prouder honour than that. We will be ready.

“The size of the games makes a difference, of course. They are not difficult games to motivate yourself for, you know what’s at stake at the end of that – the chance to go and represent your country at a major tournament, which we were lucky enough to do once and we want to do it again.”

The Scots have certainly given themselves every chance of doing just that, and if they can back up their sensational 2-0 win over Spain with another win in Oslo, they will already have one foot in Germany.

“I missed the first two [games] with injury unfortunately so I am delighted to be back involved,” Taylor said.

“I went and watched the Spain game. The boys were unbelievable. What a performance.

“We gave ourselves a great start in the group and something to build on.”

 

He'll be the player that suffers the most from AP leaving you would think. Took to that inverted full back role like a duck to water.

100% will need an upgrade now you would imagine.

 

Met him today, he's a top guy tbh

 

Unless Rodgers is going to heavily invest in a full back suited to how he used them in his last spell it would be a big mistake to not use Taylor in an inverted role again, guy is made to play that position and is just off the back of a brilliant season.

I’m sure he used inverted full backs at Leicester so quietly confident he’ll use it here.

 

I was sceptical of Taylor his first season but really like him now and think he’s been class for us. Would you reckon rodgers might see him as a weak link in Europe though against a higher caliber of opponent? Tierney was a monster at full back but then again two very different players. Suppose we won’t know until rodgers gets a look at everyone preseason. I like Taylor though and think he will continue to improve but maybe a different approach in Europe, cause of his lack of pace instead of playing inverted rodgers could have him and AJ sit back in a back 4 while the wingers and attackers do the offensive work

 

Inverted full back role suited him down to the ground and covered a lot of his deficiencies but I still get flashbacks to Kevin van Veen turning him inside out at parkhead a few months back. His defensive ability is every bit as much of a worry as his offensive ability is if asked to play a more traditional role.

Think we need to upgrade for Europe. Still a good squad player to have around

 

Yeah the inverted role suits him but that’s what I was getting at in europe the way teams shape up is more offensive with high wingers and if he goes inverted can be caught out on the break, with his lack of pace be hard to get back. I don’t think there’s any danger at all with him domestically I think he’s been great. Maybe even sitting back in a flat back 4 could be solid if he’s just playing the defensive role in Europe. I do think it would be a position needing upgraded in Europe but I don’t think it will be a priority this season. I think this season brendan will be happy enough with Taylor and might have scouts look for a higher caliber lb for next season

 

Given the way he likes to play with wingers coming inside and full backs overlapping I think looking at the current squad it's the biggest priority this summer.

It's not Taylor game and Bernabei is * honking

 

Taylor can overlap though. He might be stronger playing the inverted role but can still definitely do it.

 

Think we'll be after someone with a bit more power and pace if Rodgers decides against playing inverted, Taylor has made that role his own, but think we would get caught out by faster players a bit too often if he was going high and wide up the park all game.

We'll have to wait and see, I've seen people say Rodgers was experimenting with inverted fbs at Leicester but injuries made him bin it, so we might stick with it.

 

People are dying to write him off, you can see there is an actual disliking from some of our support of him.. "Ange is gone that's it lovely Taylor will be first to go"

Taylor was one of our best players last season, most improved player over the past two seasons in my opinion, there is absolutely no reason he can't kick on under Rodgers.

I've ever seen some suggestions the Argentinian will start under Rodgers before Taylor, comical.

Really hope and I have no doubt he will prove the doubters wrong

 

What I find weird is that in some people's menory, he was a weak link for us in the CL. He was a weak link against Bodo Glimt in Ange's first season no doubt, but he did a much better job in the second season and played really well in the CL. JJ was much more of a weak link in the CL.

 

Yeah but JJ was Croatian... had a fancy name...

 

5 minutes on Google tells me that he's basically Joe Georgeson or Joe McGeorge.

Of course, 5 minutes on Google can often lead you wrong, so take that with a pinch of salt.

 

This is true but 4 out of the 6 games JJ was up against Vinicius Jr and a Mudryk that earned a £100m move off that form.

I agree with the general point definitely but I think people recognised that those two were almost unstoppable at that point.

 

Yeah, I have to acknowledge that.

 

Worried about him this season tbh.

Ange's system was perfect for him, but there were signs already today that he might struggle if we aren't inverting.

He was barely involved in the game. Under Ange he probably had the most touches per game out of anyone. Today you wouldn't know he was on the pitch. Looked like the Taylor of old, also poor defending for one of their goals where he was caught out.

He simply doesn't have the pace, strength or physique to impose himself on games as a traditional fullback. Unless Rodgers inverts him, we're gonna need a new starting LB.

 

I thought he maybe only didn't today 'cause Iwata was on the other side.

It's just never gonna work with him on the overlap.