Former Manchester City Women’s manager Gareth Taylor defends his handling of Chloe Kelly, now thriving at Arsenal, amidst her earlier claims of ‘negative behavior.’ Taylor insists he prioritized the team’s best interests, leading to tough decisions. Despite Kelly’s subsequent Champions League and Euro success, Taylor stands by his approach, emphasizing the complexities of managing player expectations and team objectives in professional football.
Gareth Taylor, former manager of Manchester City's women's team, has reiterated his stance regarding his past disagreements with Chloe Kelly, now a key player for Arsenal and England. Kelly's departure from Manchester City was partly attributed to what she described as "negative behavior" directed towards her during Taylor's tenure. Taylor, who spent five years at the helm before his departure in March, insists he acted in the best interests of the team, even if it meant making unpopular decisions.
Kelly's career has since flourished, highlighted by a Champions League title with Arsenal and a Euro 2025 victory with England. Despite her success, Taylor maintains that his decisions were made with the club's objectives in mind. "You understand as a head coach that you are not going to make everyone happy in your team. That’s normal," Taylor told BBC Sport, addressing the situation publicly. He acknowledged the inherent challenge of managing player expectations and the inevitable disappointments that arise when players are not selected.
Prior to her move to Arsenal, initially on loan in January and then permanently in the summer, Kelly's appearances for Manchester City were limited. She played just six times in the Women's Super League (WSL) in the season leading up to her loan spell. In contrast, her impact at Arsenal was immediate, as she scored twice and provided three assists in eight WSL matches, demonstrating her potential and contributing significantly to the team's attacking prowess.
Taylor emphasized the difficulty of his role, stating, "Players want to play. I understand that. I had it many times myself when I was a professional and I was out of the team – I had my beef with it as well." He drew upon his own experiences as a player to empathize with the frustrations of those left out of the starting lineup. However, he maintained that his primary responsibility was to select the team that offered the best chance of success, a decision-making process that inevitably leads to disagreements and disappointments.
"I just always tried to remain as professional as possible," Taylor added, underscoring his commitment to maintaining a respectful and objective environment within the team. He acknowledged that his decisions would not always be well-received, but stressed the importance of prioritizing the collective good over individual preferences. He said, "Now, on the other side of it as a head coach, my job is to select what I think is the team that gives us the best opportunity. Sometimes I get it right, sometimes I get it wrong."
The situation highlights the complexities of team management at the highest level, where balancing individual aspirations with team goals is a constant challenge. Taylor's perspective provides insight into the difficult choices faced by coaches, who must often make unpopular decisions in the pursuit of victory. The public nature of the disagreement between Taylor and Kelly underscores the scrutiny faced by managers in the modern game, where player grievances can quickly become public knowledge.
Taylor further explained, "You will always get that kind of situation but you don’t want it being played out in public. For me, it felt like, through all of that time, I was true to my role.” This suggests a sense of regret over the public airing of the disagreement, but also a firm conviction that he acted in accordance with his responsibilities as head coach. The incident serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between managing player relationships and making strategic decisions for the benefit of the team.
It appears Taylor hasn't changed his mind and is standing by his decision. His recent statement highlights the challenges and complexities in management. It will be interesting to see how Taylor's career progresses after his Man City exit.
Crafting consistency pic.twitter.com/OxZXFgdrjP
— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) August 16, 2025
The whole situation underscores the high stakes and intense pressures that are prevalent in the world of professional football, and showcases the challenges associated with being both a player and coach.