"Those were tough boots to fill"; Greg Taylor still inspired by £50m-rated ex-Celtic hero

By Dave Flanigan

November 20, 2022

Celtic fan favourite Greg Taylor has detailed his friendship with the man he replaced in the Hoops squad, Kieran Tierney.

Though he remained at Arsenal for their surprise title charge, the former Paradise favourite had been linked with a shock £50million move to Manchester City in the summer [Football Scotland], but still continues to keep in touch with his successor at Celtic, with the two now firm friends.

After a tough start, Taylor has began to fill the void at left-back created by Tierney’s departure in 2019, and has revealed that his predecessor has always been a positive influence off the pitch.

As reported by Football Scotland, Taylor said: “He’s a good friend as well as a cracking player. Kieran has always encouraged me.

“We keep in touch a lot and it’s good to pick his brains for a bit of knowledge — but sometimes it’s good just chatting about nonsense.

“He always speaks highly of others and that speaks volumes for the type of guy he is, and what a player he is too. It’s my turn to speak highly of him because he’s unbelievable. Those were tough boots to fill, he’s some player.

Taylor also spoke of the inevitable comparisons made between the two, given the standards Tierney set at Celtic, but the full-back was coy on the value of the topic.

“There’s always comparisons made,” he said. “He had that as well in his career but he’s played so many games and I’m sure there’s so much more to come from him.

“Will someone be getting compared to me in a few years? Let’s hope so!”

Though much has been made of Taylor’s form this season, he’s one of many Celtic players whose bar has been raising since the very moment Ange Postecoglou set foot in Glasgow, such is his aptitude for the Aussie’s preferred style.

Whilst he has undoubtedly found another level this season, this has built upon his quiet, subtle effectiveness honed under Postecoglou last season, and Taylor was one of the most underrated players in Scotland last campaign.

Now that he’s getting his deserved credits, it’s to be expected that comparisons to Tierney will only become more vociferous, but Taylor’s friendship with the Arsenal star will likely keep the already humble star’s feet on the ground, and mind firmly on the task at hand; winning silverware as a Celtic player.

In other news: Daizen Maeda reveals behind-the-scenes Celtic influence; shares Hoops squad World Cup wish