Greg Taylor has lauded Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou’s training philosophy as he explained the squad’s togetherness this season.
The Hoops have been absolutely flying this term in a campaign that many had tipped to be transitional. Instead of an integration period, Celtic are instead 3 points clear at the top of the Premiership with a potential treble in their sights.
Taylor has been a big part of that for the Hoops with as many as 27 appearances to his name [Transfermarkt]. Yet it doesn’t seem to matter how many appearances players have had, there’s a buzz going about absolutely everyone in the squad.
And Taylor has addressed what the togetherness at the club is down to as he gave an insight into the Lennoxtown training standards. As quoted by the Daily Record, Greg said: “The gaffer’s a big one for the work throughout the week is the reason we perform how we do on the weekend. As long as we can keep the training standards high, that’ll be important until the end of the season.
“Everyone has contributed throughout the season, however many bodies we’ve used. That’ll be the same until the end of the season. Definitely. Some boys might not be called upon in terms of pitch time. But, equally, you can’t discount how important they are when they train the way they do. It keeps the levels high throughout the week.
“It’s definitely down to the manager and his philosophy [Celtic togetherness]. We’ve not looked for excuses throughout when anyone has been injured. It’s just another hurdle to jump over and we’re aiming to do that until the end of the season. You still see everyone. You’re not out of the picture because you’re injured. You’re still seeing everyone every day and you try to ask how the rehab is going on, etc.”
Celtic spirits sky-high heading into title run-in
This is a message that’s just never changed throughout the entire season. The standards at training continue to be high whilst the manager continues to push hard work throughout the week.
In addition to that, there’s seldom been a period this season in which spirits weren’t high within the Lennoxtown base. Instead, it’s been positive energy constantly. And no doubt that’s played a huge role in our 31-game domestic unbeaten run.
What really highlights the character and strength of feeling within this squad is how they’ve reacted to setbacks too. If we were of a fragile mindset, our season would’ve collapsed long ago. However, only once this season have we followed a domestic slip-up with another straight after it. Our 1-0 loss to Livingston in September was followed by a 1-1 stalemate vs Dundee United at Parkhead. Our 4 other domestic draws have all been followed by victories.
In fact, scratch that – our 4 domestic draws have been followed by prolonged winning runs. That level of response and intensity is the main reason we’re powering our way to the title.
Even looking at the off-field setbacks, nothing has rocked this squad. Remember the injury crisis we had back in the first half of the campaign? Getting out of that with 14 wins in 20 games was a decent run and provided us with the platform to go on an incredible 2022 run.
It’s surreal stuff, and something Ange and the players should take great pride in.
In other news, Ange begins Glasgow derby build-up; “everyone” at Celtic excited as opportunity beckons
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