Unbowed Wilfried Nancy shows no fear of dismissal but Celtic fans unleash wrath following derby defeat.
The Celtic boss declared he was not afraid of losing his job, claiming, “We are really close to things turning around,” despite edging perilously close to being fired with a convincing setback against their arch-rivals.
Another Collapse Sees Old Firm Defeat
Celtic were ahead the visitors at the break but a collapse after the break allowed Danny Röhl’s team to pull level on points with the reigning league title holders. The French coach, who was appointed from Columbus Crew, has now been in charge for six setbacks in his last eight fixtures.
“We are together at the club,” stated Nancy.
Pressed on whether he was concerned, Nancy replied: “That’s not my focus. My focus is on discovering solutions to get the team to be good on small moments.
Supporters' Anger Erupts
Celtic’s support voiced their fury – towards the board and manager – by protesting at Parkhead. Club directors are thought to be considering to re-appoint Martin O’Neill, who had a fruitful temporary stint before Nancy was hired, if Nancy departs.
“It’s the results [that leads to pressure]. That is the truth for the moment. However when I say that’s how it is, that is not a sign that I am pessimistic. No. My point is we are on the cusp, extremely close to change the narrative.”
“Really, Really Close”
He remains focused on the fact Celtic play well for a half at a time. For instance, were it not for missed chances they might have been more than 1-0 up. “There were positives other than the fact that we didn't take a second goal,” he said. “I know that we lost, but it's important to stay objective.
“The level we had at stages was really, really, really high. That happened. I could not talk like that if it was untrue. But that’s why, in terms of results, I mentioned we've seen this before. For that reason I believe we are nearly there to things turning around. Right now: details, details, details.”
“There were many, many good things that we did, once more. But now comes down to consistency. My narrative would be different if I didn't believe it. That’s why I am a big believer we will manage to get back on track.”
Opposition Reaction Response
The victorious boss played down talk of a championship push even after what appeared to be a statement victory. “We take it game by game, and we can develop a challenge,” he said. “The confidence in the team is immense.”
