Brendan Rodgers has opened up about Greg Taylor’s future at Celtic after the defender’s outstanding Man of the Match performance in this afternoon’s 5-1 win over Kilmarnock at Celtic Park.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers arrives at the stadium before the match REUTERS/Russell Cheyne
With Jeffrey Schlupp’s form falling off in recent weeks, Taylor took his chance in a rare start this year, and some with a Man of the Match performance.
Following the dominant display that helped secure a vital win for the Hoops, Rodgers offered insight into the club’s stance on Taylor, hinting at potential talks in the last few weeks of the season.
He said: (Sky Sports), “I thought Greg Taylor was brilliant for us, because when you play against a man-marking system, you have to be able to rotate and be flexible and not mechanical.
“Otherwise, the positions don’t open up for you, and I thought he was a real catalyst for us. Coming in, creating space, and he was very good.
“Well, I’ll always fight to the very end for a player and a person like Greg. Of course, he’s earned the right to make the decision he wants, but I think you see in the performance today that how important someone in that role is for us, because it opens up so much and he plays like a midfield player for us.
“So, yes, we’ll always try to convince, but we’ll see what happens come the end of the season.”
Clearly, Rodgers wants Taylor to stay next season to fight for his place in the starting XI against Kieran Tierney. Whether negotiations between the club and Taylor are stalling is because of first-team assurances regarding starts or financially, if Taylor is requesting a wage increase, he showed this afternoon when he is at the top of his game, Celtic are a completely different team.
It’s food for thought for Rodgers and the Celtic board, and the Irishman may just look to push negotiations up a gear, offering Taylor increased terms as it has become clear that, with his incredible ability to invert, Celtic struggle to create chances and dominate teams with possession football in his absence.
Taylor’s influence was clear to see this afternoon, as his movement started attacks, testing the opposition with the ball moved 10 times faster than last week against St. Johnstone in Perth.
