Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
DOUBLE THE ODDS
On today’s Champions League matches with
NEIL TAYLOR has told his Aston Villa teammates to carry on scrapping.
Anwar El Ghazi headbutted Tyrone Mings during an astonishing bust-up in Monday’s goalless draw against West Ham. Referee Mike Dean let the matter go unpunished, even though many believe El Ghazi was lucky to escape a red card.
Villa boss Dean Smith believes the Dutchman crossed the line, but said the pair shook hands in the dressing room and the matter was now forgotten. Wales defender Taylor cast a whole new light on the controversial incident by saying he loves to see a bit of argy-bargy.
Taylor (right) said: “I really enjoyed that. I haven’t seen one of those for years. It happens in football – it’s a passionate game.
“It’s two people that care. That’s what matters for me. I’d rather that happen than people let things go.”
The Villa pair boiled over after Mings gave El Ghazi a rollocking for not tracking back in the first half.
El Ghazi, clearly unhappy, took issue with the burly Mings and brushed his head into his face as team-mates tried to calm them down.
Taylor added: “It’s on live TV and it gets blown up, doesn’t it? They shook hands and in the dressing room at half-time, they spoke to each other and it was all settled.
“But the thing about football, I’ve played football for many years, it’s nothing personal – you’re there to do your job. They were just trying to do their best.”
Taylor only questions El Ghazi’s wisdom in picking a fight with someone as big as Mings, who stands at an imposing 6ft 5in.
He said: “Where did he get him – the stomach? They’re both feisty characters and big lads. I wouldn’t want to get into the middle of them!
“They were just showing passion. I like to see lads arguing, but if it was a head-butt then that’s not what we want to see.”