He’s stepping down as Manager? Wilfried Nancy issues BOMBSHELL truth about what’s next for him after humiliating defeat to arch rivals Ran...
He’s stepping down as Manager? Wilfried Nancy issues BOMBSHELL truth about what’s next for him after humiliating defeat to arch rivals Rangers at Parkhead
Under-pressure Celtic boss Wilfried Nancy is concentrating on restoring the fortunes of his struggling side rather than fretting over his own position following Saturday’s 3-1 Old Firm loss at home to Rangers.
Nancy suffered a sixth defeat in eight games since arriving at Celtic a month ago in a hostile Parkhead atmosphere. The home side controlled the opening half and went in front through a Yang Hyun-jun goal, but collapsed after the interval, shipping three unanswered strikes from Youssef Chermiti (two) and Mikey Moore.
The Jekyll-and-Hyde nature of Celtic’s displays has become a defining feature under Nancy, but for many supporters, losing at home to Rangers and slipping further behind in the title race is deeply troubling. Celtic remain second in the Premiership, potentially six points adrift of Hearts by the end of the round of fixtures, and now level on 38 points with Rangers.
A section of the Celtic support gathered outside the main stand at Parkhead to express their anger at the current state of affairs. Nancy insists he understands their frustration but maintains confidence that he can engineer a turnaround.
“I don’t think about it [my future],” said Nancy. “I think about finding ways to help my team to be good on details. I can understand that [the fans’ ire]. I think that they were behind us the first half, they pushed us in a good way. And after that… I can understand why they’re disappointed regarding the fact that we had many possibilities to win the game.
“I know that I repeat myself, but it happened in the past also regarding many games. And I think that they really enjoyed the first half. They saw a team, players that they were giving everything with the ball and without the ball. So they see the direction that we want to go but in a consistent way, you know, for 95 minutes.
“And after that, the fact that I know the meaning of this game – I know that – and the disappointment for them. But what I can tell them is what we did during the first half and also at certain moments second half, this is what we want to do. But at the same time, we know that we can’t accept, we cannot accept to concede goals like this. We know that. And this is something that we’re going to work on.
Celtic players ‘are getting’ what is being asked of them:
Nancy is convinced his squad understand his demands and refused to single out individuals following another setback. “It’s not that they are not getting it,” the Frenchman said. “I am with my players. I’m not here to pinpoint who missed the chances, because everybody missed. But again, the execution, I think that should be better.
Nancy was challenged on suggestions that he inherited a strong position after Martin O’Neill’s interim spell and has overseen a decline. “In terms of results, yes. I cannot deny that they had the results,” the 48-year-old said. “After that, they struggled also at certain moments, but they found a way to win. I cannot deny that. So now, I think it’s a small margin because again, the first game against Hearts, if we win the game, if we score the goals, I think that it could be different.
“So now this is the situation, and when we lose it could be difficult, but I know that my players are stronger and able to bounce back.”
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