Taylor determined to continue Celtic love affair after his proposal
GREG TAYLOR’S proposal this summer may have suggested a Love Island audition at some stage of his career. A path of rose petals, candles and champagne all in front of a blazing Greek sunset may have created the ideal alchemy for the answer that he wanted but the real marriage this year appears to have come between Taylor and Ange Postecoglou’s philosophy.
The full-back has never been without his critics at Celtic. The arrival this summer of Argentinian Alexandro Bernabei suggested that his place was under threat for the start of the campaign yet Taylor has impressed in the opening weeks of the campaign. There is a resilience to the 24-year-old yet there is also a willingness to work. Taylor appears to have revelled under the tuition of the Greek-Australian with his attitude and work rate in keeping with the qualities Postecoglou favours.
“The system the gaffer has put in place is designed in such a way that as long as everyone in it does their own small bit they will look at their best,” said the Scotland internationalist. “As long as you don’t get too far away from the blueprint, it goes swimmingly.
“As the gaffer says, it is not an easy way to play football but if you get it right it is certainly the most enjoyable way to play. One hundred per cent effort should be the bare minimum for any footballer, be it in a training session or a game and it is something I have tried to do throughout my career.
“If I give completely everything I have got then what more can be asked? There will be days when things do not go to plan but you can’t do any more than making sure you are prepared right and give everything on that day.”
As a club, Celtic’s love affair with the Champions League has not been particularly healthy in the modern era. Thumped on their recent forays into the tournament when they came up against the full might of PSG and Barcelona, there have been bruising experiences to endure.
For all that it can be a sober playground, it remains the most prestigious club competition and not just for the riches off the park that it brings. The Champions League is the glitz and glamor with the crop of current players reared on a regular TV diet of all the thrills it has to offer.
And Taylor was quick to offer a reminder that in his hometown of Greenock, the TV was the nearest portal to get to the Champions League, even when its final was held at Hampden.
“Come on now – I am from Greenock,” he joked. “We dinnae get to go to these games!
“But the Champions League is the biggest competition you can play in, so to go in and represent a club this size, is the stuff you dream of when you are a kid. If I get the chance to be involved then it would be another milestone in my career, certainly.
“It is a competition that throws up so many big occasions probably none more so than Zinedine Zidane’s goal at Hampden for Real Madrid in the 2002 final. These are moments from growing up that you remember and keep with you. Hopefully we can create some of our own this season.”
It is a former Celt whom Taylor keeps a close watch in the competition now.
“Of late, I have enjoyed watching no one more than Virgil Van Dijk in the Champions League,” said Taylor. “He has been great in the competition and I would say is arguably the best defender in the world still.
“I am sure he is very grateful for the opportunity the club gave him because he has gone on to achieve wonderful things.”
Celtic will find out who they face on the 25th of this month when the draw is made for the group stages of the tournament.
“We have an exciting season ahead with the league, the domestic cups and, of course, probably the biggest club competition of them all: the Champions League, which is where this club deserves to be,” said Taylor.