IT has been suggested Celtic are suffering from an Angeball hangover, the inevitable comedown from two years of intoxicating football.
Something hasn’t been quite right this season, that much is clear. After a sobering Viaplay Cup exit to Kilmarnock, the champions plodded to a dour goalless draw with struggling St Johnstone a week later.
The return of Brendan Rodgers was given box-office billing, but thus far it’s been a slow burner. There is, of course, nothing quite like a trip to Ibrox to light a fire under Celtic’s campaign, one they will take on with a glut of new signings in tow.
The hope is that with a derby victory and the additions Rodgers has craved, his grand return to Glasgow will kick into life. Upheaval inevitably demands an adjustment period, and Greg Taylor is among those whose role has noticeably altered from the Ange Postecoglou era.
He had thrived in the inverted role asked of him by the now Tottenham manager, and is now adjusting to Rodgers’ vision for Celtic’s future. But, despite suspicions to the contrary, the left-back maintains it’s not a case of going back to the drawing board.
“There are subtle differences but that’s the same with every coach because they all have different ideas,” Taylor said. “But there are the same principles as previously, we have been trying to brush up on them, continue to work forward and improve.
“There have been moments it’s different but the manager has been very positive and clear in what he wants from us. Hopefully we can start to show that as the weeks and league games progress.
“What are the differences? We’ll keep that in-house, we won’t share tactics. Do we want to be aggressive and dominate the ball? Exactly, that’s what the club demands.
“Attacking football, quick, trying to score lots of goals - and that’s what we’re going to try to do. We have had a great week’s training, we debrief every game whether it’s a defeat or a win.
“That has been no different this week. It’s been a good week’s training and we’ll go into Sunday with a gameplan and try to execute it.
“They are difficult games against an opponent who is at a high level so it’s never easy. We gave a good account of ourselves in the majority of the games last season so we’ll be trying to do the same again.
“There have been slight changes Rangers have tried to implement so yeah, there are differences. But we are a club who tried to focus on what we do the majority of the time, so that’s what we’ve worked on this week.
“We want to implement our game plan.”
A Champions League draw swiftly followed by another battle with Rangers are head-spinning days even at a club where the spotlight never stops shining on you. When the group stage commences, Celtic will compete against Feyenoord, Atletico Madrid and Lazio, an outcome it’s widely agreed could have been much more daunting when you cast an eye across the draw.
Last year’s campaign was an odd mix of exciting performances but ultimately poor results. Taylor, though, is certain that experience will serve Celtic will this time around.
“It is exciting,” he said. “They are really good games for us to progress. They were big challenges last year, but I think everyone in the changing room really enjoyed them. We were playing against Europe’s elite. Hopefully we can test ourselves again.
“It definitely spurs you on for domestic success. It is the biggest competition in football so we want to be in it. It is where the club deserves to be competing. We want to give a good account of ourselves in Europe this season.
“It was the first time a lot of the boys had played at that level last year. I think we will have more of an understanding of what we are coming up against. But I don’t know if it will make it an easier. As I touched upon, it is Europe’s elite. You need to be pretty perfect on the night. We will aim to be that.
“It is 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. It is just these details. If we can brush up on them I am sure we will be in a good position to try and do well.”
Away from domestic football, Taylor was disappointed to find himself omitted from Steve Clarke’s Scotland squad for the upcoming international break. But having heard his manager’s explanation, he’s ready to work his way back into contention.
“It’s an incentive because you want to be part of the national team and when you’re not of course you’re disappointed,” he said. “You have to focus on your club football and be doing the business then hopefully that takes care of itself.
“The manager gave me his reasons for the squad so you take it on board, take in on the chin and graft on.”
