Taylor determined to enjoy business end of season as derby looms
GREG TAYLOR is no stranger to success at Celtic, nor is the Scotland internationalist unfamiliar with the pressures tied to this end of the season.
At 26, the left-sided full-back is one of Brendan Rodgers’ most seasoned players, having already won two domestic trebles in Scotland, and locked horns with Europe’s elite in the UEFA Champions League in recent years.
With 16 Old Firm derbies under his belt, Taylor knows what it takes to win against Rangers, and likewise knows the sting of falling short against their city rivals – and how much it takes to dust yourself down and pick yourself back up thereafter.
The former scenario is, of course, what Taylor is targeting on Saturday, when Celtic play host to their neighbours at Celtic Park in the sides’ fourth and final Scottish Premiership encounter of the 2023/24 campaign.
Yesterday, Celtic dispatched Hearts 3-0 to extend their lead at the top of the table to six points with Rangers set to play Kilmarnock at 1pm this afternoon at Ibrox.
Come the final whistle of the final day of the season, the results in these games will matter. But until then, Taylor remains laserfocused on the next game. And that just happens to be a pretty big one.
“This is the business end, this is when the trophies are handed out and you need to be at the top of your game and be right on it,” said Taylor. “You try to enjoy it. The preparation and training during the week is pretty consistent and similar to the rest of the season.
“But you do know that there is an added edge come the weekend because we are getting into the final few games and there is so much at stake.
“I have good experience in the fixture now and I enjoy playing in them. You are up against a good opponent and there is always pressure.
“But the more you play in the games, the more you understand that although you are eager and desperate to do well, you can’t get caught up in the build up.
“Making sure you don’t waste your energy on all that during the week is important.”
The advent of round-the-clock news and the ubiquitousness of social media makes not getting caught up in the build-up difficult for everyday fans, but Taylor understands that concentration and focus are a huge part of his job, on and off the pitch.
The defender admits that fans have every right to be excited, to revel in the twists and turns of any given season, but again stresses the need for the players to remain on the level as much as possible, especially when there is a full week’s worth of preparation to be undertaken.
Come match day, though, Taylor looks forward to playing in front of the Paradise faithful – this game, like every other domestic encounter between the sides this season, will be played in front of a full house of home fans.
Taylor added: “Having the stadium full of Celtic supporters is a massive boost for us and we are looking forward to that.
“But we also know that a good performance is required and we are focused on getting three points. [The last game] was a good advert for Scottish football. Of course we wanted to come away with the win [at Ibrox] but it was a difficult environment and a lot was going on.”
How Celtic line up against their rivals on Saturday remains to be seen, but with the likes of James Forrest re-entering the starting XI last weekend, with Liam Scales having signed a new four-year extension, and with Daizen Maeda having made a miraculous comeback well ahead of schedule, Rodgers’ squad are in rude health.
On Scales, Taylor added: “I am delighted for Liam. He has had a really good season. When he first came back from Aberdeen, he probably didn’t expect to be involved as much as he has been.
“That would be a realistic observation, but he’s worked hard and taken the chance when it came. All credit to him, he’s done so well and deserves his new deal.
“He put in the hard yards, went to Aberdeen and did well, and then came back just hoping to get an opportunity.
“Some boys don’t get that opportunity but his came and he took it.”
Taylor echoed a similar sentiment with long-serving team-mate Forrest. He said: “What a player and what a guy. James is a good friend, a great team-mate and I am so pleased for him.
“He is the model professional and someone who has worked so hard over the course of the season.
“James was in a different situation. He has loads of experience at the club but probably less opportunities than he would have wanted.
“But when the business end of the campaign comes around, he is one that everyone knows you can hang your hat on.
“James has been brilliant since coming into the team.”