Kenneth Taylor says he is increasingly able to deal with the criticism of his person. The midfielder has often had to suffer from analysts and supporters this season and although that is not always easy, Taylor often tries to get the positive out of it, as he says in an extensive interview with Voetbal International.
Taylor says that he gets ‘something’ from the criticism. “But I can’t do much with it,” he also says. ‘I’ve gotten used to it in recent years, to be honest. I’m getting better at dealing with it. Sometimes it actually gives me energy. But I have a circle around me where I accept all the criticism and the positive things. I try not to let the rest influence me.’
When Taylor looks at his own performance this season, he knows it’s not going great. ‘Not with the team and not with me either. I think I have played bad games and also good games. But I can do 100 percent better, I know that,” said Taylor, who believes he can be more valuable offensively with goals and assists. ‘That also depends a bit on the different role I have now, but hey, I think it could be better. And I have to get better in defensive duels, especially in the position I am in now. I emphasize that to myself.’
Taylor needs to shoot on goal more often
Taylor watches many images of himself, although he also knows that every situation and every match is different. He also regularly receives tips from assistant coach Hedwiges Maduro. ‘Sometimes he says: “Shoot at goal”, like against PSV for example. Steven Bergwijn also told me that, I should do that more often. And other times it’s more about positioning, where I should stand in the build-up, or something like that. The rest of the staff has also been working on that all season.’
It has often been said about Taylor – but also about some fellow midfielders – that it seems as if they do not want the ball. The midfielder reacts with surprise when he hears that. ‘Yes? I don’t have that feeling on the field at all, to be honest. At least that’s not the case with me. I always want to have the ball. Whether things are going well or bad, with the team or with me. That’s ultimately why I started playing football, to have that ball at my feet.’
Taylor’s favorite position
The question now is: where does Taylor prefer to play? The talented midfielder is used in several roles in midfield, although he does have a preference. ‘Where I played the second half against Almere City, as one of the two attacking midfielders, is where I think I feel most comfortable. But I’m not that difficult about that, you know: where the trainer puts me, I will always give everything.’
Taylor may receive a lot of criticism, but so far there have been several trainers who have consistently continued to draft him. Taylor finds it difficult to talk positively about himself, although he does admit that he makes a lot of progress and makes an offensive and defensive contribution. ‘I listen to that circle around me, with my trainers, my family, my agent and my teammates. If they say I didn’t hit a ball, I’ll accept that with all my heart. If they say that I do things well, I accept that.’
2023-11-21 06:50:00
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