SPRINGHEAD-BASED footballer Chris Taylor savoured the chance to recently play against Manchester City not once, but twice in the FA Cup.
The 27-year-old was a member of Championship side Blackburn Rovers who tackled City, arguably the world’s richest club, and against the odds took them to a third-round replay.
“We played really well to draw at Ewood Park and also in the opening half at the Etihad Stadium before they blew us away when they showed their quality in the second period,” remarked Taylor.
While Taylor has played in other big games in his career, he says this was the greatest challenge of his career.
The central midfield man explained: “In terms of the quality of players I was up against, this was by far the best as City are arguably the top team in the Premier League.
“I was directly up against the Brazilian Fernandinho and Spaniard Javi Garcia while City also brought on Yaya Toure who used to be at Barcelona and who is one of the top players in the world.
“I learned a lot playing against players of that quality – how composed they are on the ball. They never waste a pass and there is also a purpose to every pass they make.
“They also showed how ruthless they can be and they had an ability to raise their game and to hurt you.”
In terms of importance, Taylor says the two games against City were among the biggest of his career alongside Latics’ FA Cup tie at Liverpool in 2012 and last season’s FA Cup semi final for Millwallagainst Wigan Athletic which afforded him the chance to play at Wembley.
Taylor, a lifelong Latics’ fan, made over 250 first-team appearances for his home-town team before signing for Millwall in the summer of 2012.
It was a burning desire to play at a higher level which prompted Taylor to join the Championship club where he spent one season before heading closer to home by joining Blackburn.
Taylor, who has never played in the Premier League, says it has turned out to be a good career move with Blackburn on the fringe of the play-off places as a return to the top division beckons.
“We have a good squad and, providing we can keep it together, I don’t think we will be too far off the play offs,” he concluded.
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