Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has revealed the reasoning behind his decision to pull Greg Taylor at half-time during tonight’s match against St. Johnstone.

The Hoops went on to secure a commanding 6-0 victory in Perth, with left-back Greg Taylor being substituted at half-time. Despite an impressive first-half performance, including a brilliant cross that set up Kyogo Furuhashi’s second goal of the night, Taylor was replaced by manager Brendan Rodgers during the interval.

Taylor was replaced by Barcelona loanee Alex Valle, who delivered a strong second-half performance. The Spaniard posed a constant attacking threat on the left flank and provided the assist for Adam Idah, capping off a brilliant team move that sealed Celtic’s 6-0 triumph.

Questions arose about the decision to substitute Greg Taylor heading into the second half, but manager Brendan Rodgers has since offered clarity on the situation.

Speaking after the match, Brendan Rodgers clarified that Greg Taylor experienced some discomfort, prompting the precautionary substitution with Celtic already leading 3-0. “Greg felt a tightness in his calf during the first 15 minutes,” Rodgers explained (The Celtic Way). “So just as a precaution, we took him off and put Alex in. We’re hopeful he’ll be fine. It also gave us the opportunity to manage some of the other players.”

Ahead of the away clash at Dortmund, Rodgers will be eager to have his first-choice starting XI available. Greg Taylor has been especially crucial in the early stages of the season, but young Alex Valle showcased his reliability with an impressive performance this evening, proving to be a solid backup option.