The pressure on Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy has become unbearable following a disastrous 3-1 defeat to arch-rivals Rangers at Celtic Park, a result that leaves his position hanging by a thread.
A Managerial Rant and a Rapid Demise
Just days before the derby, Nancy launched an impassioned defence of his credentials, telling the media they were welcome to ‘kill’ him and to judge him in a few weeks or months. However, the judgement delivered by events on the pitch has been swift and damning. This defeat marks a sixth loss in eight games for the Frenchman, whose tenure is rapidly becoming the worst in the club's modern history.
Nancy’s claim that his team ‘deserved more’ from the match rang hollow. For 45 minutes, his side were indeed the better team, taking a 1-0 lead through Yang Hyun-jun and creating further chances. Yet, football matches last 90 minutes, and what followed after half-time was a catastrophic implosion.
Second-Half Collapse Exposes Fatal Flaws
Celtic conceded three goals in just 21 minutes in the second period, a collapse that laid bare the deep problems under Nancy. Teams fully behind their manager do not disintegrate so frequently and so completely. Midfielder Luke McCowan’s tepid response when asked if the players still believe in Nancy – ‘We have to. We have got no other option’ – spoke volumes about a palpable disconnect in the camp.
Nancy’s in-game management was also found wanting. After Rangers equalised, he shifted the influential Yang from the right wing to the left, a move that failed to stem the tide. His stubborn adherence to a system his players seem ill-suited for appears naive, not principled. His excuse about lacking a pre-season was undermined by the fact Rangers boss Danny Rohl, appointed in October, had no such preparation either.
Rohl's Rangers Rejuvenated for Title Charge
In stark contrast, the opposite dugout showcased a manager thriving under pressure. Danny Rohl’s half-time introduction of Mohamed Diomande and subtle tactical tweak transformed the game. His pragmatic, flexible approach has united the Rangers squad and dragged them from eight points behind Celtic back into a genuine title race.
Rohl has now won nine of his 12 Premiership matches. The impact of striker Youssef Chermiti, who scored a ruthless brace, exemplified the growing confidence Rohl has instilled. While Rohl eyes January signings to add an ‘x-factor’, Nancy faces only the spectre of the sack.
The reality for Celtic is an empire in decline. Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel is suffering a dreadful season, the board faces a civil war with fans, and the team currently sits third in the Premiership. With Martin O’Neill waiting in the wings, Nancy’s fate seems sealed. The only question now is when, not if, Celtic pull the trigger on a failed experiment.
