Taylor insists Celtic have learned from Euro mistakes
GREG TAYLOR didn’t miss a minute of last season’s Champions League group phase — — and has ensured that not one of them went to waste.
The left-back believes he won’t be the only competition debutant in Celtic’s 2022 ranks to have experienced a sharp learning curve at the level.
Taylor is confident harsh lessons gleaned from picking up two points in a section starring Real Madrid, RB Leipzig and Shakhtar Donetsk will stand the squad in good stead for upcoming tests.
Celtic have landed another huge examination of their European credentials in this year’s draw. The Scottish champions face Dutch title winners Feyenoord, Atletico Madrid and Lazio.
Taylor is looking forward to putting into practice what he promised to improve on after Ange Postecoglou’s squad finished at the foot of their group.
The image of Luka Modric’s gorgeous finish at Celtic Park in a 3-0 win for Real is hard to shake for Taylor — and not because of the obvious quality of the goal.
Rather, he suggests there were errors in the lead-up to the Croatian genius working his magic to which he and all his colleagues should’ve paid heed.
When asked what he personally gained from the Champions League experience last season, Taylor (right) explained: ‘It’s the small details. There were games we had a lot of control in and a lot of the ball. But the goal that Modric scored at Celtic Park was the result of a slight switching off. ‘All of a sudden, the ball is in the back of the net. If we can brush up on these details, I am sure we will be in a good position to try and do well.
‘I definitely think we’re better placed to deal with the group stages because of that experience. Last year was the first time a lot of the boys had played at that level. We had big challenges last year, but I think everyone in the changing room really enjoyed them.
‘I think we will have more of an understanding of what we’re coming up against now. But I don’t know if it will make it any easier. This is Europe’s elite we’re playing against. You need to be pretty perfect on the night. ‘We will aim to be that. It’s exciting; it’s where the club deserves to be competing.’
Taylor will hope Champions League action can act as compensation for his latest Scotland snub. The 25-year-old was left out of Steve Clarke’s pool for the Euro 2024 qualifier in Cyprus and 150th anniversary friendly against England.
He’d previously — and curiously — been omitted in March when Clarke cited ‘a Celtic issue’ at a time when Taylor was enjoying a rich vein of club form.
Taylor only got as far as the bench for his former Kilmarnock manager in the June victories over Norway and Georgia.
Now there’s no place again, with the full-back options made up by Andy Robertson, Kieran Tierney, Aaron Hickey and Nathan Patterson.
Taylor admitted: ‘You want to be part of the national team and, when you’re not, of course you’re disappointed. You have to focus on your club football and be doing the business then, hopefully, that takes care of itself.’