"I need to say how good they were"; Celtic hero blown away by 'unique' supporters

By Dave Flanigan

September 11, 2022

Celtic star Greg Taylor has backed Ange Postecoglou’s side to show that they’re worthy of a place in the Champions League against Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday, following last week’s 3-0 defeat to Real Madrid.

The 24 year old played the full game against the European Champions, Real’s quality telling in the end despite an impressive opening hour from the Hoops, but Taylor believes that positive results at this level are not too far away.

As reported by The Glasgow Times, Taylor said: “Hopefully the next time these games come around the result can be better because I think the performance wasn’t a million miles away. We are all individually in a good place. I think Tuesday night showed we have all got a bit to go as a group and as individuals. We were up against the world’s best. Physically, technically, in everything, they are at a real, real high level.

“There are certainly a lot of improvements to be made in my own game and as a team. We will aim to do that through the season and hopefully we will only get stronger. It was extremely difficult, of course it was. They are arguably the world’s best team. In the end, they were probably more clinical than we were.

“There are lots of lessons, lots of improvements we can make as a team. Every game I look at, good or bad. We will analyse it with individual clips, we will analyse it as a group. No matter the result or the performance, there are always improvements to be made. It was the same on Tuesday night.

Taylor was also keen to praise the Celtic Park crowd, after a rousing reception greeted the club’s first Champions League tie in four years against Real Madrid, with many backing the team until after the final whistle despite the disappointing score-line.

He said: “I think I need to say how good our fans were, to get that reception throughout the game was amazing. When the music went on it was unbelievable. Then to get that reception at the end for a team which had been defeated was so unique. I am so grateful. It was incredible, incredible. What a support.”

Taylor has been one of Celtic’s best performers this season, stepping up his consistent performances last term to become one of the first names on the team-sheet this campaign, starting all but one of the Hoops’ fixtures.

He’ll need to continue his form into Wednesday’s clash with Shakhtar in Poland, with ex-Celtic right winger Marian Shved enjoying a dream start to life in Donetsk, scoring twice against Leipzig in their Champions League opener, and adding another in yesterday’s 2-1 win over Chornomorets Odesa.

At the moment, the game is scheduled to go ahead, after all league fixtures this weekend in Scotland/England were postponed following the death of the Queen.

In other news: “We can learn a lot” – Celtic midfielder reflects on what the squad can take from UCL outing