The atmosphere inside Celtic Park was one of collective relief on Wednesday night as Celtic edged out Young Boys 1-0, securing their place in the Champions League play-off stages in dramatic fashion.
It marked the club’s first appearance in European competition since December 10, and the pressure leading up to the match was palpable. With so much at stake, expectations were sky-high.
Celtic began the game on the front foot, creating opportunities and finding the back of the net on several occasions.
However, VAR and the linesman repeatedly intervened to chalk off the goals for offside, leaving fans frustrated and hoping for a change in fortune.
The nerves only intensified when Young Boys’ Arne Engels stepped up for a penalty, but a crucial save ensured the score remained level. At that point, tension was beginning to ripple through the crowd, with many starting to feel that it might not be Celtic’s night.
As the clock ticked down, the anxiety in the stadium was palpable. But with just five minutes remaining, the breakthrough finally came—an own goal that proved to be the decisive moment.
Brendan Rodgers and his team could finally celebrate as they clinched their place in the next stage of the competition.
Brendan Rodgers ‘frustrated’ with Greg Taylor
While Celtic’s inability to convert chances earlier in the game led to some groans from the crowd, Greg Taylor seemed to bear the brunt of frustrations—not just from the fans but from Brendan Rodgers himself.
Taylor’s crossing came under scrutiny, with Pat Bonner highlighting an incident where the left-back failed to deliver with precision.
Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland, Bonner noted Rodgers’ visible frustration following one particularly poor cross. Less than ten minutes later, Taylor was substituted.
“McGregor for Hatate, Taylor wants it desperately and gets it in a central area,” the BBC commentator detailed.
“He curls it into the back post and there is just too much on it. Not a bad idea. He was looking for Engels and just too much on it. Behind for a goal kick.”
Bonner added: “You are right, the idea was good, but the execution was poor and that’s what’s frustrating. You can see Brendan Rodgers down on this left-hand side, beside him and he is a little frustrated with that also.”
Taylor’s performance under the spotlight
The debate surrounding Greg Taylor’s future at Celtic continues to grow, especially with speculation about Kieran Tierney’s potential return to the club.
With Taylor’s contract nearing its end this summer, his performances are under intense scrutiny, and opinions among supporters remain divided.
Against Young Boys, Taylor played 69 minutes in what was a high-pressure encounter. According to WhoScored, he earned a rating of 6.91 for his efforts.
Key stats from Taylor’s performance:
- Total tackles: 2
- Interceptions: 1
- Clearances: 2
- Passes: 42
- Pass accuracy: 76.2%
- Crosses: 1
- Touches: 65
For Taylor, the spotlight is unlikely to fade as Celtic progress in their European campaign. With pressure mounting and competition for his position potentially heating up, the coming months could prove pivotal for his future in green and white.