Premier League icon Thierry Henry has publicly called for the Celtic board to show patience with under-fire manager Wilfried Nancy, despite the Frenchman losing his first four matches in charge.
Henry's Public Defence of Under-Pressure Nancy
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, Henry, who knows Nancy well from their time together at CF Montreal, argued it is far too early to judge the new Parkhead boss. Nancy has suffered defeats to Hearts, Roma, St Mirren, and Dundee United since taking the reins, leaving Celtic six points behind league leaders Hearts with a game in hand.
"I see people calling for him to leave the place," Henry stated. "As a coach myself, I think it's too early to say that. Let him work and let him cook and judge him maybe at the end of the season." Henry acknowledged his personal bias as a friend but stressed the senselessness of a premature dismissal.
A Rocky Start to the Celtic Reign
The dismal start began with a loss to title rivals Hearts and was compounded by a Europa League defeat to Roma and a Scottish League Cup final loss to St Mirren. The most recent blow came on Wednesday, December 17th, 2025, when a Daizen Maeda opener was overturned by two Dundee United goals in four second-half minutes.
Despite the intense scrutiny, Celtic are reportedly prepared to persist with Nancy for now. Former Scotland striker Kris Boyd, analysing the Dundee United match for Sky Sports, suggested the players must share responsibility, praising a "brilliant" first-half performance.
What Comes Next for Nancy's Celtic?
The immediate focus shifts to a crucial home Premiership fixture against Aberdeen on Saturday. The Dons are in solid domestic form but arrive off the back of a heavy European defeat to Sparta Prague.
Henry highlighted the universal challenge for new managers, stating it takes time to implement ideas. While results are currently poor, his message to the Celtic hierarchy is clear: allow the process to unfold. Nancy's pedigree, including leading Columbus Crew to MLS Cup glory in 2023, suggests a capable coach, but the pressure at Celtic Park is unrelenting.
The coming weeks will be critical in determining whether Nancy gets the time Henry advocates for, or if the club's patience runs out.
