Group stage was a million miles from me after Connah’s Quay calamity, admits Taylor
GREG TAYLOR’S only experience of European football came as a Welsh part-time team featuring a cocktail barman, a security guard and a former bare-knuckle boxer inflicted the most humiliating knock-out in Kilmarnock’s history.
The Rugby Park side had waited 18 long years to host continental football again but a horror home debut for new manager Angelo Alessio saw Connah’s Quay Nomads win 2-0 to progress 3-2 on aggregate in the Europa League qualifiers.
Sitting disconsolate in the home dressing room at the end of that disastrous tie, Taylor prayed it would not be his first and last taste of European action.
Four months later, and now a Celtic player, the 22-year-old’s wish will come true with the left-back set to start against Rennes in the group stage tonight.
And after the misery the tournament caused him back in July, Taylor is hoping to be part of a happier slice of history as Neil Lennon’s side chase a home victory that could clinch top spot in Group E with a game to spare.
‘It’s been some journey since those games against Connah’s Quay Nomads,’ reflected Taylor, who scored an own goal in Killie’s 2-1 first-leg win in Wales.
‘I’d describe it as two freak games. They took us by surprise. It’s never easy when it’s so early in the season and there’s a new manager in place as well.
‘But there’s no point in mincing words — it was frustrating. We had worked so hard over 38 games in the previous season to get into Europe, so to throw it away and not have a proper crack at it was so disappointing.
‘When you are sitting in the dressing room that night, the Europa League group stage seemed a million miles away.
‘I didn’t want that to be my last game in Europe, going out in the first qualifying round.
‘Topping a European group has never been done before in Celtic’s history, so it would be brilliant if we could do that and I could be a part of it.
‘It would be a hell of a lot better than my experience in Europe at the start of the season.’
Earlier this month,
Taylor played every minute for Scotland away to Cyprus and at home to Kazakhstan in Euro 2020 qualifiers under his former Killie boss Steve Clarke. That experience will help him make the step up to Europa League group stage football, while making his international debut in Belgium in June against stars such as Eden Hazard, Kevin de Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku will also inoculate him from any pre-Rennes nerves. ‘After Belgium, nothing will faze me,’ he agreed. ‘I was thrown in at the deep end over there but these are the games you want to play in. ‘You want to test yourself at the highest level and the Europa League and Belgium is definitely up there. ‘To get a few games at international level is another step above playing domestically. Hopefully I can continue that by playing against Rennes in the Europa League group stage.’ Taylor has had to be patient since his £3million move to Celtic Park in August. Behind Boli Bolingoli and Jonny Hayes in the pecking order, he has been restricted to just two appearances for the Scottish champions. But he is determined to take his big chance on the European stage to show he can shine at Parkhead. ‘Every player wants to come into a new club and play every minute of every game,’ said Taylor. ‘But it’s very rare for someone to walk straight into the Celtic team, especially when the team is winning every week. ‘There is a settling-in process and I feel the time I have been out the team will benefit me in the long run. ‘I feel like I am a better player since I joined Celtic. ‘When you come to a club this size you improve because you are playing and training every day at a higher standard with better players. ‘I now feel I’m fully up to speed and that I understand the way of playing at Celtic. Hopefully now I’m ready to take my chance in the team and impress the manager.’