The crisis at Celtic Park has plunged to unprecedented depths, according to lifelong fan and midfielder Luke McCowan, following a demoralising 3-1 defeat to rivals Rangers. The loss marks a sixth defeat in just eight matches under manager Wilfried Nancy, leaving the club six points adrift of leaders Hearts.
‘It Haunts You Every Minute’ – Player Describes Agony of Defeat
In a brutally honest assessment, McCowan laid bare the emotional toll the club's dramatic collapse is taking on the players. He described a palpable sense of hurt shared in the dressing room after an extraordinary demise that has seen a once nine-point lead over Rangers evaporate, with the sides now level.
"It's hard to tell the fans that. They're watching it week in, week out," McCowan stated. "Let's call a spade a spade, when has it ever been this bad? It's never." He detailed the personal impact of the losing streak, saying the feeling "haunts you every minute of every day" and leads to players returning home to sit in silence, unable to face usual distractions.
Second-Half Capitulation Mirrors Tannadice Collapse
The nature of Saturday's loss was painfully familiar. Celtic dominated the first half at Parkhead but fell apart after the break, a scenario mirroring a previous defeat at Tannadice. McCowan pinpointed the failure to adapt to Rangers' tactical shape change as the critical flaw.
"The first half we absolutely dominated," he said. "That second half just wasn't good enough really... Rangers can't just come here and win 3-1. It's never been the case before and it shouldn't be the case now." The midfielder conceded the squad is struggling to adapt to Nancy's new 3-4-3 system mid-season, acknowledging the difficulty but insisting players must implement the manager's ideas quicker.
Dressing Room Support for Nancy, But Title Hopes Fading
With furious supporters demanding change in the dugout and boardroom, McCowan was pressed on the level of belief in the under-fire French manager. His response was telling. "There has to be, he's the manager," McCowan said. When asked if players truly believed in Nancy's message, he added, "We have to. We've got no other option."
The club's hopes of securing a fifth consecutive league title are now in serious jeopardy. "Well, it's going to be tighter than last year, that's for sure," McCowan opined, stressing the need for immediate results despite it only being January. Celtic have moved to bolster the squad with the loan signing of Mexican defender Julian Araujo from Bournemouth, with more arrivals expected.
McCowan's final message was a call for unity, but underscored the brutal reality at a club where results are the only currency. "As I've seen for years now... you're never getting time. It's about results and winning, and that's just the kind of be-all and end-all of it."
