Celtic left-back Greg Taylor has revealed what manager Brendan Rodgers said to the team at half-time against Motherwell last weekend that helped spur them on to a late yet pivotal 3-1 victory.
In the opening 45 minutes of the game, the Hoops were nothing short of poor. Blair Spittal put them 1-0 down just before the break, but the champions remained calm at half-time.
Gaffer Rodgers could have easily gotten caught up in the emotion of the game, but he stayed tranquil. Indeed, left-back Greg Taylor has revealed exactly what went on in the dressing room at Fir Park: “He stayed really calm and just spoke us through a few points where we could be better in the game”, he said (The Celtic Way).
“He took all of the emotion out of it and it is so easy to get caught up in emotional moments when you are down.
Celtic’s Greg Taylor reacts REUTERS/Russell Cheyne
“The manager just said this is where we can be better in the game and we took that into the second half.”
The boss’ peaceful demeanour at the break proved crucial. In the second 45, his team went out and played with freedom and intensity culminating in two late goals to win the game.
This high level of performance carried on into Wednesday’s match where the champions ran riot, triumphing by seven goals to one. Things are looking more positive by the week in Glasgow’s east end, but Sunday’s game is as arduous as they come.
Tynecastle is never an easy place to go but if Celtic can carry their form from the last game and a half into this weekend, the result will take care of itself.
