Greg Taylor needs to have a strong game tonight

Greg Taylor needs to have a really strong game tonight at left-back if we are to get anything from this one.

Celtic v Atletico Madrid Champions League 25/10/2023. Greg Taylor of Celtic FC during the Champions League match  at Celtic Park, on 25 October 2023. Photo Colin Poultney PSI

The Scottish defender has been great for Celtic whilst playing the role of inverted full-back, but not so hot when being asked to adopt the more traditional full-back role that Brendan Rodgers seems to prefer. It’s been an obvious teething problem since the Irishman returned to the club in the summer.

Greg has been targeted in European football by the opposition and Atletico Madrid were no different in Glasgow a couple of weeks back. They kept trying to catch the defender out on that left-hand side of the pitch, playing balls over the top in behind to exploit the former Killie man’s lack of height and pace at times. One of the times they managed to get goal side of Greg and it led to the penalty being given against him by the referee.

Atletico Madrid
Atletico Madrid’s French striker #07 Antoine Griezmann (C) controls the ball during the UEFA Champions League group E football match between Celtic and Atletico Madrid at Celtic Park on October 25, 2023. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP via Getty Images)

If he would have been in a better starting position to begin with, that would not have happened. Plain and simple. He needs to be more switched on tonight and cannot afford to be lassiez-faire when approaching his defensive side of the game against Atletico Madrid. Greizmann will have a field day if he isn’t up to the task at the Civitas Metropolitano Stadium this evening and this battle could prove crucial to the outcome.

He’s did tremendously well the last couple of years in a Celtic jersey has Greg, and it’s a real shame that Rodgers has decided to come in and revert back to the traditional full-back most of the time. However, if he wants to be a regular for Celtic, then he has to be better in individual duels at European level and also make up for his lack of pace, by ensuring his speed of thought bridges this gap in what are obvious physical deficiencies for the role.

It could be won or lost with this fine detail tonight.

Paul Gillespie

Click on image to order a signed copy of Majic, Stan & The King of Japan from The Celtic Star.
Get a FREE Celtic beanie hat when you sign up for the weekly Lottery from Celtic Pools.

About Author

I'm a Garngad Bhoy through and through. My first ever Celtic game was a friendly against Italian side Parma at Celtic Park, in 2002. Currently a student of English Literature and Education at the University of Strathclyde for my sins. Favourite game would be a toss up between beating Manchester United with that Naka freekick, or the game against the Oldco when Hesselink scored in the dying seconds. I'm still convinced Cal Mac is wasted playing that far back.

1 Comment

  1. Taylor is the weakest link, he is complete utter mince as a defender.
    Not good enough for celtic.