Express & Star

Neil Taylor: Anwar El Ghazi and Tyrone Mings bust-up was between two Aston Villa team-mates who care

Neil Taylor reckons the on-field bust-up between Anwar El Ghazi and Tyrone Mings highlighted Villa’s passion for the cause as he declared: “I’d rather that, than people let things go.”

Published

Full-back Taylor claimed to “really enjoy” seeing his team-mates square up during Monday’s 0-0 draw with West Ham, though he acknowledged El Ghazi overstepped the mark by putting his head into Mings’ face, after being bawled out by the defender for not tracking back.

Both players have now drawn a line under the incident after shaking hands in the dressing room at half-time.

Taylor said: “It was one of those, it’s on live TV and it gets blown up doesn’t it? In the dressing room at half time they spoke to each other and it was all settled.

“I really enjoyed that, actually. I haven’t seen one of those for years. It happens in football, it’s a passionate game.

“It’s two people that care and that’s what matters for me. I’d rather that than people let things go.

“I’ve played football for many years, it’s nothing personal, you’re out there to do your job for the club. They were just trying to do their best.”

The incident was checked at the time by VAR, with El Ghazi running the risk of a red card for violent conduct and Taylor added: “I like to see two lads arguing, but if it was a headbutt then that’s not what we want to see. The two are perfectly fine now and even at half time they were.”

Despite joking that El Ghazi was “brave” for taking on a team-mate as formidable as Mings, Taylor claimed the Dutchman’s fiery reaction was not entirely out of character.

He also admitted such altercations can be quite common on the training pitch, away from the cameras.

“Obviously to that level, we don’t see it every week,” he said. “But we train all day together and things happen all the time in football because we are clashing and working hard.

“We are all playing for position. These things are not that uncommon. Obviously for it to be seen on TV, is a little bit different.”