Wilfried Nancy has launched a passionate defence of his credentials as Celtic manager, hitting back at critics and claiming the media have tried to “kill” him during his difficult start at the club. The Frenchman’s position is under serious threat ahead of Saturday’s Old Firm derby, with Celtic having lost five of his seven games in charge, including a dismal 2-0 defeat to Motherwell on Tuesday.
Speaking ahead of the match against Rangers, Nancy acknowledged the pressure but pleaded for time. “This is only the beginning,” he said. “Usually, we have four weeks of pre-season. I did not have pre-season. I need time. Give me time and you will see my team. You can see already what I did before.” He added: “It is totally normal that you guys, you kill me. I am fine with that because I know where I want to go. Judge me in a few weeks, months.”
Nancy has faced criticism for his persistent use of a three-man defence, which many believe does not suit the current Celtic squad. The club’s board now face a dilemma over whether to invest heavily in the January transfer window to support his long-term plans or admit the appointment was a mistake. After Brendan Rodgers left in October, Martin O’Neill led Celtic to seven wins in eight games as caretaker.
Nancy stressed the need for patience, noting that he has only had 12 or 13 training sessions with the squad. “A few players have been here five, six, seven years and were doing things in a certain way. It takes time,” he said. “For the moment, this is a tornado. I knew that. Is it easy to handle that? No, but I am ready for that.” He urged critics to analyse the performances rather than just results, saying: “Analyse all the games since I have been here, whether we should win or lose. Do it.”
Celtic’s broader instability adds to the tension. The club’s annual general meeting was suspended due to fan unrest, and former manager Brendan Rodgers was publicly attacked by majority shareholder Dermot Desmond upon his departure. Chairman Peter Lawwell resigned last month, citing “threats and abuse”. A derby win would only briefly calm dissent, with Rangers manager Danny Röhl expressing confidence: “We are ready. We have a big confidence at the moment, we have a big belief.”
