Greg Taylor in Celtic transfer response as he insists he can handle Kieran Tierney pressure
Greg Taylor #GregTaylor
Greg Taylor insists he can cope with the savage levels of expectation at Celtic.
And the Parkhead defender says he has no issues with gaffer Neil Lennon hunting a new left-back and threatening his spot.
Taylor is set to face Riga and is looking for a big Euro display.
The former Kilmarnock ace has been a regular in the side since the turn of the calendar year, but has yet to win over some of the fans.
Taylor has battled to hold the fort in the position previously held by Kieran Tierney after the departures of Jonny Hayes and Boli Bolingoli.
Lennon wants to find another left-back before the end of the transfer window to compete with Taylor and he said: “It’s not a problem for me.
“That is the life of a player at a big club. There’s going to be competition everywhere.
“Boli’s gone on loan, so there’s a vacancy there. It’s understandable the manager’s looking to bring someone else in.
“It’s competition and that drives every player on. It’s something that we love having in the squad.
“I just keep my focus on what I’ve got to do. You just aim to do enough that makes sure the manager selects you for the next game.
“There’s always pressure on you, but I don’t have a problem with that. It pushes me on.”
Critics comparing his output with £25 million Tierney doesn’t make life easier, but Taylor continued: “It’s natural. Kieran was a top, top player for the club and still is that at Arsenal.
“He’s a great lad and I was with him in the last Scotland squad and got on really well with him, but, it’s for other people to make comparisons.
“It’s not something I do myself. I’ve never claimed to be Kieran Tierney, I’m Greg Taylor and that’s all I can be each week. Hopefully that’s enough to continue to play each week for the gaffer.
“I feel I can deal with the pressures. It’s something I’ve become accustomed to. The pressures and demands through the support, the squad, the club. It’s all natural and I feel I can handle it. I also feel I’ve handled it well since I signed for Celtic.
“It’s a pressure that I love. I am feeling good, feeling ready for what’s to come.
“I’m enjoying playing, I’ve been involved in eight of the nine games this season and it’s something I want to continue. I love playing at this club.
“I think I understand now everything about the club and what comes with it. It’s a massive club. It’s the kind of expectation and pressure you want as a player.”
The pressure is on again tonight as Taylor and his team-mates look to stay on course for the group stages of the Europa League.
Celtic’s exit from the Champions League to Ferencvaros in their last Euro outing was a bitter blow and Taylor said: “We were all disappointed with that, but, over the piece results have been strong.
“There’s still more to come from us. We’re not the finished article by any means, but we’ll get there.
“I think we are building momentum and the aim is to win the next three or four games until the international break. Hopefully, we can maintain things against Riga.
“It’s a must that we get European football. We didn’t progress in the Champions League and it was disappointing on that evening. It still hurts us.
“But we can only control what’s in front of us and, hopefully, we’ll progress in the Europa League.
“It’s a minimum expectation to have European football at this club.”
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