'Bring on Real Madrid': Celtic defender Greg Taylor wants Spanish giants in Champions League draw

Celtic defender Greg Taylor is dreaming of a mouth watering clash with European champions Real Madrid as the Hoops prepare for a return to the continent’s top table.

The draw for the Champions League group stage takes place next Thursday and Celtic will be in amongst the big guns again after qualifying directly as Scottish Premiership winners.

Fans are mixed between those who are wanting to bring the biggest names possible to Celtic Park and others who are wanting the most winnable tie.

As a pot 4 side the Glasgow club will be drawn against a team each from pots 1, 2 and 3 to make up a four team section.

From Pot 1, for example, they could be drawn against PSG, Manchester City or Real Madrid, but on the flipside they could also play Portuguese champions Porto or Europa League winners Eintracht Frankfurt, who, despite being a difficult task for Postecoglou’s men, would be seen as significantly less difficult than the Spanish, English or French giants.

But Taylor, who has cemented his place at left-back with a string of solid performances, is wanting a shot at the 14-times winners who recently added the European Super Cup to their ever growing trophy cabinet.

In a Q&A on Twitter the 24-year-old, signed from Kilmarnock in 2019, said: “The way the group is set up for us, there’s going to be three difficult teams regardless.

“A club I would like to face though is Real Madrid.

“They’re European Champions so it would make for a great challenge.”

Despite several games against Barcelona in the group stages, including a famous 2-1 victory in 2012, Celtic have yet to face Real Madrid in the Champions League era.

The last time the club’s met was in the 1980 European Cup quarter-final when Celtic won 2-0 in Glasgow before losing out on a place in the semi-finals with a 3-0 defeat in Madrid.

Taylor also revealed his pride in hearing team mate Jota waxing lyrical about him following Sunday’s 5-0 win over Kilmarnock when the Portuguese winger praised the Scotland international’s recent performances in the Hoops.

He said: “I think you could see in the interview I was really touched by Jota’s kind words.

“For him to say that, it did mean a lot.

“For your teammates to think highly of you there is no better feeling and no better praise.”

And he also credited the Celtic manager for his recent displays at left back.

He said: “I think I’ve improved since the manager came in and I’m still always trying to improve. I enjoy playing in the system and I’m enjoying learning it every day.

“It certainly helps if from back to front you’ve got a team of players who have all played their part in our recent success – I could go through everyone individually but it certainly makes my job easier.”