Greg Taylor's Celtic Q+A in full: Playing as one and keeping calm amid title-race pressure

How are you all feeling at the moment about the form? Obviously, it was a good result on Wednesday night [v St Mirren] but the form at the moment maybe hasn't been at the level it was earlier in the season...

We're so many games unbeaten, we've dropped two points in however many so... I don't know if I agree that the form's not quite there. We were disappointed to go out of Europe, of course we were, but we're still controlling games and winning games of football so we're all happy here.

Does that show the expectation levels when you're three points clear at the top of the table?

I've stressed this before - the expectation levels at a club this size are always going to be massive. There's a demand not just to win games of football but to win them in a certain way. So when we don't meet them of course there's going to be outside noise but we just focus on our way of playing football and try to do that each day we train and each game we play.

It's always a tough place to go, Livingston. Is that something the players are well aware of from previous experience?

We know every game in the league is going to be difficult, especially now until the end of the season. Every team's got their own ambitions and Livingston are on a good run. They got another good win the other night and I believe they've won a few in a row, so we know they'll be right up for the game and ready to put on a performance at home. We know it'll be a difficult game, as we believe the rest of the game until the end of the season will be.

What is it in particular about playing away at Livingston - their style of play, the pitch... is there anything in particular that makes it more of a tricky test than some other places?

[They're] just a difficult side, who have a good way of playing. They know how to get results and they've done that again this year. I'm sure they'll have their own ambitions, whether that's top six, Europe or whatever. We just need to focus on what we can do, what we can control and that's bringing our A-game, playing the way we want to do it and hopefully getting the three points we want.

You said about needing to win games in a certain way - does that still apply given how pressurised it's going to get towards the business end?

Yeah, it definitely does. The manager's massive on that. The performance is first and if we play the way we want to, and the way the gaffer believes is going to bring us success, then results should hopefully take care of themselves. We're definitely massive on performance - we aim to try to hit the levels we already have and better.

How big do you think temperament will be throughout the 90 minutes - say it's goalless after 60 minutes do you just have to keep your cool and plod away and get that goal?

Yeah, exactly. The game is 90 minutes. From minute one to 90 we aim to play our style of football. Whether that means we get the goal early - which would, of course, be nice - or if it's a case of just chipping away and eventually breaking teams down later on in the game then that might be what's required.

Was that important on Wednesday night... you could maybe hear some bits of frustration from the crowd, is that something you just have to shut out?

You understand from a fans' perspective they want wins and performances as stress-free as possible so if we score early then it definitely makes their night a lot easier. It's on us to try to do that each game but it can't always work that way. There are 11 bodies out there trying to stop us playing our football. St Mirren were like that the other night. Eventually we got the goal and it settled everyone down and helped us go and get the next - and the three points, which was important.

Livingston can be very organised - is that something you enjoy, that tactical battle?

It's difficult playing against defensive blocks but we focus on us. We can't ever look for excuses. We try to do what we can control - and that's playing our football. If we keep doing that, it might take until the last 10 minutes, but as long as we strive for performances, results will take care of themselves.

How do you feel physically going into the last couple of months of the season?

I feel physically strong. I've been playing for the last however many months and with the games you get stronger. We train at an intensity here that means you're ready for the games when called upon. So I feel physically good, fresh and ready to attack the last remaining league games and the cup.

Is this the fittest you've been in your career?

It would be right up there, to be fair. We get the figures and distances off the sports science guys and we can see the numbers are just going up and up each game. We're working harder and the gaffer said that when he came in that when we got to this part of the season he'd aim for us to be stronger and hopefully we can continue to.

What's your understanding of Ukraine wanting to postpone the World Cup qualifier (against Scotland) and is it the right thing to do?

I would say these decisions aren't football-related. There's a lot bigger things going on out in Ukraine. You watch the news every night and it's sad to see. Football definitely takes a second - if that's what needs to happen then it would be understood from all the players.

You've kept two clean sheets in the last two games - playing for a team known for its attacking powers how reassuring is it to know your defensive efforts have been praised now also?

I think as the season has gone on we've improved defensively and offensively. We've got a good understanding, whoever plays in the back four, of the way the manager wants to play with the high line, etc. It's not just the back four, the defending starts at the front. You saw, for example, Daizen [Maeda] the other night, the number of pressures and amount of pressing he does for us definitely helps. We defend as 11 and attack as 11. We're in a good place that way.

How much are you enjoying the inverted full-back role?

It's been a new way of playing but one I've really enjoyed. The inverted full-back is not just about being inside it's about finding the space whether that's on the inside or the outside. I think it plays to my strengths and my game so long may it continue that way. I'm just eager to learn and try to improve each day and each game.

How different is it to playing as a conventional full-back and does it change against a team like Livingston?

We're used to playing against low blocks now. We come up against it quite often whether it's at Celtic Park or away. It's not just about trying to find the space in the middle. It's on the outside at times. It's about rotations with whoever's on your side. It's just about trying to find the space to get the breakthroughs that we need. Is it more difficult? No, I think it makes it easier as you're freeing yourself up so you're actually giving yourself more passing options. Whereas if you get locked on a side, for example, you've only got the option back inside you don't have the outside so by being in there you've got both ways [to pass].

That's 16 league clean sheets this season - how important are the front players, the intensity off the ball and how much work goes into that on the training pitch?

The gaffer's been massive on that since he came in. Our press starts with our striker or wingers. To be fair to the lads who have played there, every game they have done that which definitely helps us. Going the other way, the build-up starts with the defenders and goalkeeper so for attacking it's important for us to give the attacking players their chances. We all work as one and there's a reason behind it.