Unbowed Wilfried Nancy shows no fear of dismissal yet Celtic fans unleash anger following derby defeat.
The under-pressure manager insisted he had no concerns about losing his job, asserting, “I believe we are really close to things turning around,” despite moving dangerously close to being fired with a convincing setback against the Ibrox side.
A Second-Half Capitulation Leads to Derby Loss
The home side were ahead Rangers at half-time but a second-half capitulation allowed Rangers to draw level on points with the current Scottish Premiership champions. Nancy, who was brought in from the MLS, has now presided over six setbacks in his first eight fixtures.
“We are together with the board,” said Nancy.
Asked directly about whether he was concerned, the 48-year-old said: “That’s not my focus. My focus is on discovering solutions to aid my players to be good on details.
Fan Fury On Display
Celtic’s support voiced their fury – directed at the dugout and directors – by gathering at Parkhead. The hierarchy are reportedly likely to bring back Martin O’Neill, who had a fruitful temporary stint last year, should a change be made.
“It’s the results [that leads to pressure]. That is the reality for the moment. However when I say that’s how it is, I am not saying that I am giving up. Not at all. The message is we are on the cusp, imminently close to change the narrative.”
Nancy’s Persistent Belief
He highlights the fact Celtic can perform strongly for one half at a time. For instance, but for wastefulness in front of goal they could have been greater than 1-0 up. “The performance had merit except the fact that we missed more goals,” he said. “I know that we lost, but I have also to be balanced.
“The level we had at times was really, really, really high. That is a fact. I wouldn't say that if it was not the case. Therefore, in terms of results, I noted we've seen this before. Which is why I believe we are nearly there to getting it right. But for the moment: details, details, details.”
“We produced a lot of encouraging signs that we did, once more. The issue now comes down to consistency. My outlook would not be the same. This is why I am a big believer the team can to fix this.”
The Rangers Boss Stance
The victorious boss played down talk of a championship push in spite of what felt like a statement victory. “Step by step, then we can develop something here,” he said. “The confidence in the team is immense.”