Ex-Man City boss Gareth Taylor opens up on feud with Chloe Kelly after spat led to Lionesses' Euro 2025 hero's acrimonious Arsenal transfer

After seeing her game time getting reduced at Etihad Stadium, Kelly was desperate to move away from City and she eventually signed for Arsenal on an initial loan deal. The transfer turned out to be a turning point in her career, as the Lionesses star went on to win the Women's Champions League and then starred in England's European Championship triumph in the summer.

Ahead of the 2025-26 campaign, Taylor has joined Liverpool as their head coach after being sacked by City last season, while Kelly has made her Arsenal move permanent. The new Reds boss has now opened up on his fallout with the English forward, which gained a lot of attention during the last transfer window. 

Speaking to BBC Sport, Taylor said: "You understand as a head coach that you are not going to make everyone happy in your team. That's normal. "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. I just always tried to remain as professional as possible. 

"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. You will always get that kind of situation but you don't want it being played out in the public. For me, it felt like through all of that time, I was true to my role."

Kelly will be in action for the Gunners in a pre-season against West Ham on August 27, before they kick off the new Women's Super League season against London City Lionesses on September 6.