CELTIC left back Greg Taylor has revealed he has flourished in Ange Postecoglou’s system because it has meant a welcome return to the central midfield position which he grew up playing as a youngster at Kilmarnock.
But the Scotland internationalist, who is fit to start in the cinch Premiership match against Rangers at Ibrox today after recovering from a minor knock, has stressed that he will continue to show exactly the same attitude that he had when he was starting out despite his success.
Taylor has firmly established himself as a supporters’ favourite in the last couple of seasons with his consistent displays for the Parkhead club and was integral to their League Cup and Premiership triumphs in the 2021/22 campaign.
He has fully embraced the innovative tactics which Greek-Australian coach Postecoglou, who likes to use inverted full-backs, has introduced since arriving in this country last year and gone from strength to strength at home and abroad as a result.
The 25-year-old believes that his past experiences have enabled him to push upfield and infield when required – but he has no intention of letting up in training sessions or matches going forward and is eager to improve even further.
“I enjoy playing beside the attacking boys,” he said. “I wouldn’t say I play behind them, I’m more inside of them now in this system. I really like this system and I want to keep improving. I’m just enjoying my football.
“If somebody had told me I’d be playing as an inverted full-back and playing for Celtic when I was at Kilmarnock I would have been buzzing because I used to be a centre mid before I got planked to left-back!
“It’s a funny story, actually. I was waiting for an opportunity at Killie in their under-20s or reserves and someone, one of the first team boys, got injured.
“I remember one day just getting rushed out of the Portakabin at Killie to play left back in a game. Lee Clark was the manager and I did half-decent in the game. From that moment, I didn’t really look back. It was a different role, but it’s now one that I love.”
Taylor added: “There are moments when you doubt yourself, especially when you see other boys get opportunities when you’re younger and you’re not. So it’s natural to have doubts. But I was one who was always willing to fight and try to give everything I have.
“My attitude was that if I came up short, having given everything I had, so be it. At least I could look at myself in the mirror and accept it. That’s something I take to work every day and also in life. Every day, I give it my all. Wherever that leaves me, I can be pretty happy with myself.
“It has been amazing and I won’t ever take it for granted. I love every minute of my work. The opportunities I’ve been given have been unbelievable, but I can’t rest on my laurels. I need to keep pushing and that’s what I’m here to do.
“I don’t want to take it for granted, getting to play for a club this size, in a system that’s so enjoyable. So I appreciate it because it feels unbelievable at times.
“There’s more improvement left in my game so I try to learn every day from the manager in his meetings or from the coaches on the training pitch. Hopefully I can continue to do that this season and throughout my Celtic career.”
A win in Govan this afternoon would send Celtic 12 points clear of Rangers in the Premiership and deal a savage blow to their city rivals’ hopes of catching them and reclaiming the Scottish title. But Taylor knows the result today will not decide the league.
“I don’t think you can be saying that in January,” he said. “That seems a bit early to me. We’re just aiming to win every game and play well - Monday is no different. Hopefully we can put on a show there for the fans there to watch us.
“This is a big game, a difficult one. But we go into every match with full belief that we can play our football. We’re going there with the aim of putting on a really strong performance.
“The manager has been clear that he doesn’t ever want us to let up regardless of the score. We judge ourselves on performance. So it doesn’t matter whether we’re one-nil down or four-nil up, we have to keep going to the very last second.
“Having a really strong squad as we do helps with that because everyone is eager to play and show what they can do when they get an opportunity. It’s the players who drive that standard now, whether it’s in training or games.
“We have proper strength in depth in every position. That’s why we’ve managed to keep a consistently high level even when we’ve played three games a week. Everyone is playing their part, even boys who aren’t starting every week. They’re pushing the other boys every day so it’s a real collective.”
