Greg feels Taylor-made for the Champions

Memories of Zinedine Zidane’s stunning winner in the 2002 Champions League Final at Hampden is helping whet Greg Taylor’s appetite for Celtic’s return to European action.

The Hoops, Scotland’s title winners last season, go straight into the group stages of Europe’s most-prestigious club competition, with the draw to be held later this month.

It’s a prospect which thrills Taylor, who credits the arrival of new signings at the club – including £3.75-million Argentinian full-back, Alexandro Bernabei – with helping fire him up for the new campaign.

Celtic fans certainly approve, with the Scot widely judged unlucky not win Man of the Match for his tireless performance against Aberdeen on the opening day of the league campaign.

“I do feel in a good place right now,” said the 24-year-old.

“It was nice getting a full pre-season without the European qualifying ties. I got a decent break after the Scotland games, too.

“Now we are back into it for the new season, and the gaffer has brought in four or five signings over the summer, which we needed.

“The first benefit is that it is helping the ones who were already here to kick on because it is obviously extra competition for places. It also strengthens us as a group.

“They have all settled in quickly, and it helped that Jota and Cameron CarterVickers were here last year.

“Getting them signed was very positive for us as a group.

“We built things up nicely over the pre-season, and got the ball rolling with a good team performance in the win over Aberdeen.

“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, we will look at our best.

“It is hard work. As the gaffer says, it is not an easy way to play football, but if you get it right, it is certainly the