Lazio Midfielder Kenneth Taylor Left Out of Netherlands Squad
Netherlands coach Xavi Hernandez explained that omitting the in-form midfielder was his toughest roster choice.
Netherlands head coach Xavi Hernandez has revealed that leaving Lazio midfielder Kenneth Taylor out of his latest national team squad was the most difficult decision he had to make. The 46-year-old Spanish manager addressed the omission during a press conference, pointing to the return of key players in a crowded midfield.
Taylor, who joined Lazio in January and has quickly established himself as an immovable starter under manager Gennaro Gattuso, has been enjoying a standout campaign. The 24-year-old has contributed two goals and two assists in 11 Serie A appearances this season, drawing attention and reported transfer interest from Premier League clubs such as Brighton and Bournemouth.
Given his remarkable club form, Taylor likely anticipated another call-up for the Oranje's final two UEFA Nations League group-stage fixtures against Germany and Greece. However, Xavi ultimately decided to leave the former Ajax star out of the lineup.
Explaining the rationale behind the roster cut, Xavi noted that space had to be made for returning Barcelona captain Frenkie de Jong and Bournemouth midfielder Justin Kluivert. "Taylor's exclusion? It was the hardest decision. Now Kluivert and De Jong are back, and we have plenty of midfielders. He could have been called up," the Dutch coach stated.
Despite dropping him for the upcoming matches, Xavi emphasized that the Lazio midfielder remains firmly in the team's plans. He left the door open for a future return, provided the player maintains his current performance level.
"He's definitely under our scrutiny," Xavi said. "If he continues to perform at this level, he can definitely return."
Taylor previously featured for the Netherlands under Xavi during the September-October international break, making a 23-minute appearance against Serbia after missing out on the coach's debut against Germany. He served as an unused substitute in subsequent Nations League games against Greece and Serbia before this latest omission.